Question

An OTR® is concerned that a worker participating in a back-neck school program may be magnifying symptoms. On assessment measures, the worker inconsistently reports pain throughout body mechanics training activities. The worker often refuses to complete tasks, citing pain as the reason. Which reason is the MOST likely for the worker to magnify symptoms?

A. The worker is satisfied in the worker role and lacks motivation to complete tasks.
B. The worker fears increased pain from task completion.
C. The employer is supportive and is encouraging the return to work.
D. The worker values work and perceives work as a source of motivation.

Answer 1

The most likely reason for a worker to magnify symptoms is due to the fear of increased pain from task completion, which can be intensified by occupational stress factors leading to job burnout.

Step-by-step explanation:

The worker magnifying symptoms may be doing so because of the fear of increased pain from completing tasks. This fear can stem from various occupational stressors such as excessive paperwork, work overload, and lack of positive feedback, leading to feelings of job burnout. Job burnout often involves emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and diminished personal accomplishment, which in turn can exacerbate the perception of pain and discomfort.

Workers may also display increased pain behavior due to the lack of motivation stemming from feeling undervalued, being in unsafe work environments, or dealing with frustrating bureaucracy. The inconsistency in reporting pain could also hint at an underlying psychological element related to occupational stress, which might not only be a response to physical pain but also to emotional and mental strain. Based on the choices provided, if the worker is magnifying symptoms, it is most likely due to the fear of increased pain from completing tasks (option B), rather than motivation aspects related to job satisfaction or perceived values of work.