Postural and body awareness as correlates of musculoskeletal pain among community-dwelling housewives

Housewives are exposed to sustained physical and psychosocial demands during daily household activities, contributing to musculoskeletal pain as a public health concern. However, the associations between postural and body awareness and musculoskeletal pain remain insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to explore the associations of postural and body awareness with musculoskeletal pain prevalence and pain intensity in community-dwelling housewives. This cross-sectional study included 228 housewives. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and a numeric rating scale. Postural and body awareness were evaluated using the Postural Awareness Scale and the Body Awareness Questionnaire. Higher postural awareness was significantly associated with 12-month pain prevalence in the lower back (aOR = 1.054), neck (aOR = 1.080), and shoulders (aOR = 1.042). In contrast, higher postural awareness was associated with lower pain intensity in the lower back (B = −0.055), neck (B = −0.055), and upper back (B = −0.057). Higher body awareness was associated with increased pain intensity in the lower back (B = 0.024) and upper back (B = 0.026). Additionally, higher body mass index was associated with greater lower back pain intensity, while a higher number of children was associated with greater neck (B = 0.369) and upper back pain intensity (B = 0.322). Postural and body awareness demonstrate distinct associations with musculoskeletal pain among community-dwelling housewives. Higher postural awareness was associated with a higher likelihood of pain reporting but lower pain intensity, whereas greater body awareness was associated with higher pain intensity in the lower and upper back.