Abstract
Purpose: To systematically explore how disability is influenced with layers (demographic level, pain level and psychosocial factors) in nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) in different subgroups.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that compared two different subgroups in NSLBP at two hospitals. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to analyse factors affecting disability in different groups (overall group, acute group and subacute/chronic group).Results: In the overall group (n = 235), explanatory power increased with each additional variable in the order of demographic characteristics, pain intensity and psychosocial factors. Pain intensity (ß = 0.219), Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) (ß = 0.175) and Pain Self-Efficiency Questionnaire (PSEQ) (ß = −0.370) were significantly associated with disability. In the acute group (n = 65), explanatory power improved with each additional variable for the disability in the order of demographic characteristics, pain intensity and psychosocial factors. Ultimately, pain intensity and PSEQ had significant explanatory power, with pain having the most influence. However, in the subacute/chronic group (n = 170), explanatory power increased with each additional variable in the order of demographic characteristics, pain intensity and psychosocial factors and all, including psychosocial factors, had a strong impact, with self-efficacy having the most substantial impact on disability.Conclusion: Depending on the duration of the disease, the factors affecting the disability differed, with pain having more influence than psychosocial factors in the acute phase and psychosocial factors having more influence in the chronic phase.