Paid and Unpaid Productivity Losses Associated With Musculoskeletal Conditions: Longitudinal Evidence From Australia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on paid and unpaid productivity using longitudinal Australian data. METHODS: Data were drawn from 4 waves of the Household, Income, and Labor Dynamics in Australia Survey. Musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs) were identified from self-reported arthritis or osteoporosis, with prescription medication as an indicator of symptom severity. Functional limitation severity was classified using tertiles of the SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale. Correlated random-effects models estimated within- and between-person associations between MSCs and weekly paid, unpaid, and total productivity, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and lifest..