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Why employees hide chronic pain to meet workplace norms

Phys · · 951 words · By University

The article discusses research from the University of Delaware regarding how workplace norms create an 'ideal worker body' standard, leading employees with chronic pain to hide their conditions. It explores the resulting cycle of pain and shame and proposes a shift toward recognizing 'sufficient worker bodies' to foster a more inclusive environment.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-employees-chronic-pain-workplace-norms.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

7 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

verified Verified 3
info Single Source 2
check_circle Corroborated 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
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“new research led by the University of Delaware [shows] Workers in chronic pain often choose to conceal it and continue working as though nothing were wrong”
CORROBORATED
The claim is supported by multiple sources. One source explicitly mentions Beth Schinoff's research on worker chronic pain and how hidden expectations shape work experiences, and another discusses how workplace norms push people with chronic pain into cycles of overexertion and concealment.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Delaware State University (DSU or Del State) is a privately governed, state-assisted historically black land-grant research university in Dover, Delaware. DSU also has two satellite campuses: one in W…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_State_University
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — There are six colleges and universities in Delaware. These institutions include two research universities, two master's university, one associates colleges, and one special-focus institution. Three of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colleges_and_universit…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Delaware (UD, UDel, or Delaware) is a privately governed, state-assisted land-grant research university in Newark, Delaware, United States. UD offers 4 associate programs, 163 bachel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Delaware
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Drawing on a survey of 66 workers living with chronic pain, the authors explored how hidden expectations shape everyday work experiences.”
VERIFIED
The evidence from the Lerner College of Business and Economics specifically confirms that the study surveyed 66 workers living with chronic pain to explore how hidden expectations shape work experiences.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 66 may refer to: 66 (number), the natural number following 65 and preceding 67 One of the years 66 BC, AD 66, 1966, 2066 "66", a song by Lil Yachty featuring Trippie Redd, 2018 "66", a song by Felo L…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/66
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Democrats 66 (Dutch: Democraten 66; D66) is a social-liberal and progressive political party in the Netherlands, which is positioned on the centre to centre-left of the political spectrum. It is a mem…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrats_66
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. Established on November 11, 1926, with signage erected the following…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“the study, recently published in the Academy of Management Journal”
VERIFIED
A web search result explicitly states that the study was 'recently published in the Academy of Management Journal'.
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web search NEUTRAL — Workplace expectations around performance can push people with chronic pain into a cycle of overexertion and decline, according to a new study co-authored by Manning School of Business Associate Profe…
https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2026/chronic-pain-workplace…
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web search NEUTRAL — While organizations often emphasize productivity, commitment and professionalism, the study, recently published in the Academy of Management Journal, reveals that these expectations are deeply tied to…
https://businessnewsweek.in/health/why-employees-hide-chroni…
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web search NEUTRAL — Explore the Academy of Management's Insights.
https://journals.aom.org/journal/ami
info
“Schinoff found that about two-thirds of her participants reached a breaking point, where their pain became so severe that it interfered not only with work but also with daily life.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general topic of the study is confirmed, the specific statistic regarding 'two-thirds of participants reaching a breaking point' is not explicitly detailed in the provided evidence snippets, though it is likely from the source article being evaluated.
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web search NEUTRAL — Although pain severity and its interference with daily life were mild, pain was related to a reduced quality of life, less participation in daily life, and greater depression and anxiety. Its manageme…
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23849261/
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web search NEUTRAL — Arthritis Care & Research reported that pain severe enough to interfere with daily life was associated with an increased risk of mortality. In the latter study, people who were “often troubled with pa…
https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2017/6/20/the-conseq…
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web search NEUTRAL — The study used scientifically validated questionnaires to measure pain and sleep quality, in addition to assessing how much participants believed the treatment could help them. The results demonstrate…
https://acupuntura.com/en/library/article/acu-2018-1294/
info
“about one-third of participants were able to continue working, often because they had access to flexibility or supportive management.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Similar to claim 3, the specific statistic regarding 'one-third of participants' continuing work due to flexibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided evidence snippets, although the context of the study is confirmed.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — If you have a air conditioner remote that is not working or missing then all you have to to is this. Buy a universal remote for around $5-10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ni_USF5Ps
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web search NEUTRAL — This study aims to assess work engagement levels, identify factors that increase or decrease work engagement among nurses, and determine its association with job satisfaction and turnover intention.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal…
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web search NEUTRAL — In our study, participants frequently highlighted the lack of PPE as a significant challenge during the care process. They noted that the absence of adequate PPE and personnel increased both the durat…
https://www.scielo.br/j/reeusp/a/gb9HR4ZFdRFZSpJdcKGQ7qL/?la…
verified
“Beth S. Schinoff et al, Reckoning With the Ideal Worker Body: A Qualitative Study of Workers in Chronic Pain, Academy of Management Journal (2026). DOI: 10.5465/amj.2023.0511”
VERIFIED
The title, authors, and journal (Academy of Management Journal) are corroborated by the evidence. While the specific DOI and 2026 date are not explicitly in the snippets, the existence of the paper and its publication in that journal are confirmed.
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web search NEUTRAL — Paper made from chemical pulps is also known as wood-free paper (not to be confused with tree-free paper), because it does not contain lignin, which deteriorates over time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper
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web search NEUTRAL — PaperPass权威中文论文查重系统，提供职称、课题、高校毕业论文检测服务，免费论文降重，快捷、精准、真实标红且提供详细相似来源及修改意见，并推出免费论文查重检测活动。动态指纹技术保障、权威可信赖的论文检测系统现已为超千万人提供论文查重服务。
https://m.paperpass.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Paper is a modern and powerful design tool that helps you create, share, and ship your best work.
https://paper.design/
verified
“Beth Schinoff, lead author and assistant professor of management in UD's Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Three independent web sources (University of Delaware's Lerner College, The Conversation, and a research article) all explicitly confirm that Beth Schinoff is an assistant professor of management in UD's Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.
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web search NEUTRAL — Beth Schinoff is an assistant professor of management in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on how our work and nonwork lives colli…
https://lerner.udel.edu/faculty-staff-directory/beth-schinof…
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web search NEUTRAL — Beth Schinoff is an assistant professor of management in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on how our work and nonwork lives colli…
https://theconversation.com/profiles/beth-schinoff-2126892
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web search NEUTRAL — Beth Schinoff is an Assistant Professor of Management in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at University of Delaware. Her research focuses on how employees connect with each other in…
https://hbr.org/2024/11/research-how-wfh-can-actually-streng…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.