FIGHTING FOR AND LOSING OR GAINING CONTROL IN LIFE

In JP Henry's work, fighting for and losing control were important con cepts in the interpretation of energy mobilization in psychosocial con ditions. Attachment and support were important protective and salutoge nic factors. These concepts have been applied in a series of epidemiol ogical and psychophysiological real life studies. Job conditions which force the worker to mobilize energy and concomitantly inhibit anaboli sm could be identified at least partly by means of the demand-control- support model originally proposed by Karasek. The most adverse conditi ons at work arise when psychological demands are high and at the same time the decision latitude is low. This combination is associated with changes in the regulation of endocrine parameters as well as with inc reased morbidity-heart disease, functional gastrointestinal symptoms a nd musculoskeletal disorders. Examples of studies of physiological cor relates of psychosocial processes leading to fight for control are als o described from outside work activities.