The work environment of today is synonymous with stress, fatigue and exhaustion. As a result, the
incidence of workplace injury and disease is increasingly commonplace. Repetitive Strain Injury
(RSI) is the most common form of work–related ill–health. If the symptoms are not recognised and
addressed early, serious and more chronic manifestations of the symptoms can emerge,
subsequently affecting the quality and duration of a persons' working life. RSI also has significant
implications for organisations in terms of lost productivity, drops in work quality and costly
compensation claims. Although there is ongoing international research available concerning
workplace injury and disease to inform business and the employee, there is less comprehensive and
regularly updated research within the South African context. Considering employers can be held
accountable for diseases that have arisen out of and in the course of an individual's employment,
this research adds value in ascertaining the magnitude of RSI in South Africa. Bearing in mind
international research has expanded its focus to include the potential influence of ergonomic and
psychosocial factors in the development of RSI, it has become necessary to consider additional
factors that may play a role in the development and maintenance of RSI.
The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the frequency of RSI experienced amongst South
African employees; 2) examine the frequency of RSI across three well–being groups; and 3) identify
whether there are significant differences across the three well–being groups. An availability sample
(N = 15 664) was utilised to determine the frequency of experience of RSI in a sample of South
African employees. Frequencies were used to determine the incidence of RSI symptoms for the
total sample. Participants were then selected into groups based on their experience of vitality, work
devotion and exhaustion (n = 4 411) in order to determine the frequency of RSI experienced for three well–being groups. ANOVA was used to determine if there were significant RSI differences
between these three well–being groups.
The results of this study highlight that RSI is prevalent amongst the South African population. Of
those participants who responded 'sometimes' and 'frequently' (experiencing RSI), 47% indicated
experiencing neck, shoulder and back discomfort, followed by 42% reporting eyestrain, and 24%
muscle stiffness. These results are comparable with international statistics, indicating that a
relatively large percentage of South African employees experience RSI. The results further showed
that the frequency of experience of RSI symptoms does differ across the three well–being groups. It
is evident that RSI is more prevalent in the well–being group that demonstrates vital exhaustion
when compared to those who are work engaged yet exhausted, and those who are truly work
engaged. Secondly, the results clearly revealed statistically significant differences between all of
these groups. Thus, those individuals who are vitally exhausted experience significantly greater RSI
symptoms than those who are truly work engaged or engaged with exhaustion. In addition, those
individuals who are work engaged with exhaustion demonstrate significantly more RSI symptoms
than those who are truly work engaged. Thus, this study suggests the potential role of exhaustion in
the development of RSI.
Recommendations were made for the organisation and for future research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/4617 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Schultz, Gillian |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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