The influence of demographic, health, sleep, work-related, ergonomic, lifestyle, and wearable technology use factors on absenteeism due to neck, shoulder and low back pain among teachers in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundTeachers frequently experience musculoskeletal problems, particularly neck/shoulder pain (NSP) and low back pain (LBP), which are major contributors to absenteeism.ObjectiveTo examine the association between absenteeism due to NSP and LBP and a broad set of factors: demographics, health, sleep, work conditions, ergonomics, lifestyle behaviors, and wearable technology use among teachers in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and February 2024. Teachers were recruited via social media platforms, and data were collected through a web-based questionnaire. Self-reported absenteeism and predictor variables were analyzed using logistic regression and Odds Ratio (OR).ResultsA total of 232 school teachers participated. Absenteeism prevalence was 45.3% for NSP and 46.1% for LBP. Most factors, such as age, gender, smoking, workload, were not significantly associated with absenteeism. Likewise, smartwatch or health app use showed no statistically significant effect, likely due to low adoption. However, frequent use of neck or back support, often reflecting underlying pain severity, was a strong predictor of absenteeism (NSP: OR = 5.76; 95% CI: 1.80-18.47; LBP: OR = 4.89; 95% CI: 1.43-16.77). Sleep disturbances significantly increased absenteeism risk for NSP (OR = 5.44; 95% CI: 2.38-12.45) and LBP (OR = 5.14; 95% CI: 2.13-12.40). Frequent nervousness (OR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.08-6.31) and low physical activity (OR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.03-5.51) were also associated with higher absenteeism.ConclusionsUse of ergonomic supports, sleep disturbance, nervousness, and sedentary behavior were key predictors of absenteeism. Interventions should focus on ergonomic improvements, sleep hygiene, stress management, and promoting physical activity. Future studies should explore strategies to improve wearable technology adoption for musculoskeletal health monitoring.