SummaryThis study addresses coping processes as explanation of age-related differences in strain experience. Based on the life-span theory of control, we posit that older workers employ more active problem-focused and more active emotion-focused coping strategies than younger workers, which should mediate age effects on strain at work. The correlation between age and passive avoidance coping, in contrast, is expected to be qualified by external resources such as job control. Hypotheses were tested in a two-wave panel study (8 months lag) with 634 workers (age range 16-65 years). Job demands were considered as control variables. As predicted, older as compared with younger workers reported more active problem-focused coping, which mediated age differences on strain in the longitudinal analysis. No mediation was found for active emotion-focused coping. Moreover, age-contingent effects of passive avoidance coping were moderated by job control. When job control was low, younger as compared with older workers reported more avoidance coping, which in turn decreased strain in the longitudinal analysis. Finally, reverse longitudinal effects of age-contingent strain on active problem-focused and active emotion-focused coping provide initial evidence for age-contingent resource spirals. Together, the results reveal specific strengths of older workers for stress management at work.

Purpose -The ongoing demographic changes in many industrialized countries affect managerial decisions in many ways, and require sound knowledge of systematic age differences in central work-related variables. The current paper aims to address age differences in the experience of work-related stress. Based on life-span approaches, the authors focus on age differences in different components of the work-related stress process and meta-analyze existing empirical studies on the relationship between age and short-term indicators of work-related stress (i.e. irritation). Design/methodology/approach -The authors conduct both a literature review and a meta-analysis of age and indicators of work-related stress. Findings -The literature review revealed that age might affect several components of the stress process at work. However, as these effects are partly conflicting, they might nullify each other in the overall relation between age and stress. Indeed, the conducted meta-analysis showed no general correlation between age and irritation as a short-term indicator of work-related stress. Instead, this relationship was significantly moderated by type of occupation and gender.Research limitations/implications -The meta-analytic results are limited to short-term indicators of stress. Based on both the literature review and the meta-analytical findings, the authors introduce a research agenda for future research, including a call for more thorough research on the whole work-stress process and the integration of life-span theories. Practical implications -A more differentiated understanding of age differences in different stages of the stress process at work facilitates the implementation of age-differentiated stress prevention and intervention strategies. Originality/value -This study is the first meta-analysis on the relationship between age and short-term consequences of work-related stress.

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While age differences of workers gain increasing importance because of demographic changes in most industrialized countries, age differences in stress experience and resistance have been rarely addressed. In this initial empirical study, we explore the general relationship of age and strain as a function of three processes: (1) older workers might experience less strain because of better coping strategies; (2) older workers might experience more strain because of higher vulnerability; or (3) age and strain might be curvilinearly related with highest strain reported by middle-age workers. Using both general and experience-based measures, strain and emotional reactivity to stressful job events were reported by 274 workers aged between 18 and 65 years. Results showed an inverted U-shaped relationship between age and strain experience.

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