The Impact of Musculoskeletal Pain Distribution on Quality of Life among Secondary School Female Teachers

Trupti Kishor Jogdeo; Ankita Dabshede

The Impact of Musculoskeletal Pain Distribution on Quality of Life among Secondary School Female Teachers

Author(s)	Trupti Kishor Jogdeo, Dr. Ankita Dabshede
Country	India
Abstract	Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a widely reported occupational health concern among school teachers, whose work combines prolonged standing, sustained sitting, repetitive board writing and reaching, and psychosocial demands. Female secondary school teachers form a particularly vulnerable group, and pain is frequently reported at more than one anatomical site. However, the relationship between the number/distribution of painful sites and health-related quality of life (HR QoL) has been less extensively studied than pain prevalence alone. Objectives: To determine the distribution of musculoskeletal pain across anatomical regions using the Modified Nordic Questionnaire, to assess quality of life using the SF-12 questionnaire, and to examine the association between musculoskeletal pain distribution and quality of life among secondary school female teachers. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 female secondary school teachers (age 30-45 years, minimum two years of full-time experience) from schools in Pune city, selected by convenience sampling over six months. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using the Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and HR QoL was assessed using the SF-12, yielding Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. Participants were grouped by number of painful sites (no pain, one, two, three, or more than three sites). Spearman rank correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to examine associations. Results: Musculoskeletal pain in at least one region was reported by 91 participants (74.0%). The low back (51.2%), upper back (36.6%) and neck (18.7%) were most frequently affected, and 63 participants (51.2%) reported pain at two or more sites. Mean PCS declined progressively from 55.23 (no pain) to 33.43 (>3 sites), and mean MCS declined from 57.39 to 44.09-44.84 across the same groups. Pain-site count showed a strong negative correlation with PCS (Spearman ρ = -0.824, p < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation with MCS (ρ = -0.603, p < 0.001); Kruskal-Wallis testing confirmed significant between-group differences for both PCS (H = 82.81, p < 0.001) and MCS (H = 45.47, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A wider distribution of musculoskeletal pain is significantly associated with poorer physical and mental health-related quality of life among secondary school female teachers, with the association being stronger for the physical component. Comprehensive physiotherapy screening for multisite pain, rather than assessment of a single symptomatic region, is warranted in this occupational group.
Keywords	Musculoskeletal pain, pain distribution, quality of life, SF-12, Modified Nordic Questionnaire, female teachers, occupational health
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-26

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The Impact of Musculoskeletal Pain Distribution on Quality of Life among Secondary School Female Teachers

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