The association of stress management, work, anti individual factors with th
e incidence of upper-back disorders and coronary heart disease was studied
according to the House paradigm of stress research. The features of work co
ncerned its organization and social environment. Stress management and indi
vidual factors covered coping styles, sense of coherence, family roles, gen
der, and age. These factors were measured by questionnaire studies in 1992
when the subjects (n = 1101, mean age 58 years) were active workers, ann ag
ain in 1997. Manageability and withdrawal stress response prevented upper-b
ack disorders, whereas dissatisfaction with the work schedule predicted the
se disorders. Male gender predicted coronary heart disease.