ACA survey finds back pain is driving mental health strain for Australian women

A new Australian Chiropractors Association survey says 86.7% of women experienced back pain in the past year, and nearly half reported a moderate-to-extreme mental health impact. The findings also point to cost barriers, caregiving pressures and a broader economic burden that the ACA says demands earlier intervention and better access to care. Why it matters: - Back pain is affecting more than physical health for Australian women. The survey links it to mental fatigue, sleep disruption, depression and broader mental load. - The ACA says cost barriers are stopping many women from seeking diagnosis or treatment, which can allow pain and related mental health impacts to worsen. - The findings also point to a wider household and economic burden, with implications for families, productivity and health spending. What happened: - The Australian Chiropractors Association released new national survey data for Spinal Health Month on June 15, 2026. - The 2026 Spinal Health Survey was an independent national survey by Pureprofile in May 2026 of 1,040 Australian adults, including 528 women and 512 men. - The survey found 86.7% of Australian women had back pain in the past 12 months. - Men reported a slightly higher prevalence of back pain at 87.5%, but women reported worse psychological effects. - 47.6% of women with back pain reported a moderate-to-extreme mental health impact, compared with 44.2% of men. The details: - 77.3% of women with back pain reported mental fatigue. - 54.8% said back pain added to their mental load. - 53.7% of women with back pain said they had never sought a formal medical diagnosis. - 49.7% said the cost of living had prevented them from seeking treatment. - That was 10.9 percentage points higher than men, at 38.8%. - Back pain affected 9.7 million Australian households, or 89.7% of households surveyed. - In 5.4% of households, a child under 18 was also living with back pain. - The biggest gender gap in mental health impact appeared among 25- to 30-year-olds. - In that age group, 63.5% of women with back pain reported a moderate-to-extreme mental health impact, compared with 44.7% of men. - Women were more likely than men to report chronic pain, at 46.5% versus 41.6%. - Among women aged 41 to 50, the chronic pain rate was 46.8%, 13.1 percentage points higher than men in the same bracket. - Women were more likely to point to caregiving and household responsibilities as triggers. - 16.4% of women nominated housework as a trigger, compared with 9.5% of men. - 7.6% cited caring for a child, elderly person or person with disability. - 6.9% of women with back pain said pregnancy was a contributing factor. - Depression or anxiety from back pain peaked among women aged 51 to 60, at 17.1%. - Dr. Ali Young, ACA Women In Chiropractic chair, said women were reporting higher rates of mental exhaustion, sleep disruption, depression and mental load than men. - Dr. Young also said chronic back pain can worsen psychological and social problems, creating a cycle that can intensify both pain and disability. - PainAustralia reports the annual cost of chronic pain to the Australian economy at $73.2 billion. - Musculoskeletal Australia puts the cost of musculoskeletal disorders, including back pain, at $55.1 billion. - A Deloitte Access Economics report from 2019 says 6.1 million Australians are already affected by musculoskeletal disorders. - Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine projected in August 2025 that chronic back pain will cost Australia $638 billion in lost productivity over the next decade. - The Monash research also projected that by 2033, 3.2 million working-age Australians will be living with chronic back pain if common back pain is not tackled through advice to stay active and receive appropriate care. - The same research said chronic back pain could reduce Australia’s GDP by about 4.6% over 10 years. Between the lines: - The survey suggests back pain is being shaped by more than injury or posture. Care work, pregnancy, household labor and financial stress all appear to be part of the burden for women. - The biggest mental health gap among younger women may signal an early intervention problem, not just a chronic disease problem. - The economic figures strengthen the case for treatment access and prevention as workforce issues, not only health issues. What’s next: - The ACA is urging women to use free spinal health resources, practical guides and information at Spinal Health resources during Spinal Health Month. - Dr. Young said greater awareness, early intervention and improved affordability could make a meaningful difference to women’s health and wellbeing. - The survey findings are likely to add pressure for a broader national conversation on back pain, mental health and access to care. The bottom line: - Back pain is emerging as a major physical, mental and financial strain for Australian women, and the ACA says fixing it will require earlier care and lower cost barriers.