Adolescent Neck and Shoulder Pain—The Association With Depression, Physical Activity, Screen-Based Activities, and Use of Health Care Services

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 366 - 372
• Main Authors: Myrtveit, Solbjørg Makalani, Sivertsen, Børge, Ph.D, Skogen, Jens Christoffer, Ph.D, Frostholm, Lisbeth, Ph.D, Stormark, Kjell Morten, Ph.D, Hysing, Mari, Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-09-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent health; Adolescent Health Services - utilization; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Phone - utilization; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Health services; Humans; Internet - utilization; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Motor Activity; Neck and shoulder pain; Neck Pain - epidemiology; Neck Pain - etiology; Neck Pain - physiopathology; Neck Pain - psychology; Norway - epidemiology; Pediatrics; Physical activity; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Screen-based activities; Shoulder Pain - epidemiology; Shoulder Pain - etiology; Shoulder Pain - physiopathology; Shoulder Pain - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Television - utilization; Video Games - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent health; Screen-based activities; Physical activity; Health services; Neck and shoulder pain; Depression; Risk factors; Human; Mood disorder; Physical exercise; Use; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Painful shoulder; Health service; Pain; Adolescent; Risk factor; Computer; Neck; Public health
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.02.016

Abstract Purpose Neck and shoulder pain is frequent in adolescents, and multiple factors seem to affect the risk of such symptoms. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain in Norwegian adolescence and to examine whether behavioral and emotional factors were associated with the risk of neck and shoulder pain. Finally we aimed to investigate whether neck and shoulder pain was related to the use of health services. Method Data from the population-based study ung@hordaland were used. Participants were asked how often during the last 6 months they had experienced neck and shoulder pain. The association between frequent neck and shoulder pain and physical activity, symptoms of depression, and screen-based activities was evaluated using logistic regression analyses stratified by gender. The relative risk of visiting health services when reporting neck and shoulder pain was calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Frequent neck and shoulder pain was reported by 20.0% (1,797 of the total 8,990) and more often by girls than boys ( p < .001). A high score of depressive symptoms was the strongest risk factor for neck and shoulder pain in both boys and girls (odds ratio = 6.14 [95% confidence interval 4.48–8.42] and odds ratio = 3.10 [95% confidence interval 2.63–3.67], respectively). Frequent screen-based activities slightly increased the risk while physical activity was protective. Individuals reporting neck and shoulder pain more often visited their general practitioner (47.1% vs. 31.8%) and school health services (24.6% vs. 13.5%). Conclusion Frequent neck and shoulder pain was reported in 20% of Norwegian adolescents. Symptoms of depression and screen-based activities increased the risk of neck and shoulder pain while physical activity was protective. Individuals reporting neck and shoulder pain visited health services more frequently than others.