Sustainable work environments and gendered perceptions of risk factors, musculoskeletal discomfort, and quality of work life: A pilot validation of a theoretical model

Recent studies have proposed theoretical models integrating biomechanical, psychosocial, and organizational risk factors with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) outcomes and their impacts on Quality of Work Life (QWL), but without stratification by worker sex. This pilot study aimed to validate a theoretical model through a sex-stratified analysis in a specific regional context. It involved evaluating 116 men and 304 women across various economic sectors. Variables were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). All hypotheses that were statistically significant for males were also significant for females; however, the converse is not valid. This asymmetry may partly reflect the greater statistical power from the larger female subsample, but also suggests that women are exposed to a broader spectrum of ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors. Female workers experienced all risk factors affecting males, plus additional sex-specific factors, notably the impact of physical work demands on perceived stress and musculoskeletal discomfort on quality of life. These findings point to a disproportionate burden borne by female workers and underscore the need for targeted interventions to advance workplace health equity. The model also revealed that contextual risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort occur more frequently among females, negatively impacting their QWL—an effect not observed in males. Findings should be interpreted with the sample's gender imbalance in mind, which may affect statistical power, particularly for male-specific estimates. The model highlights the unequal ergonomic burden across sexes and reveals how sustainable workplace policies must incorporate gender equity to promote occupational well-being and prevent chronic conditions.