ABSTRACT
Strain hypothesis Cardiovascular related health is one particular area of physical health that has been extensively researched. Jobs that are characterised by high job strain have been found to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors (Pieper et al, 1989) and more specifically an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (e.g., Theorell and Karasek, 1998). There is evidence in the Japanese literature that the Job Strain Model is associated with increased levels of blood pressure and serum lipids in the Japanese working population (Kawakami and Haratani, 1999). There is however a substantial body of literature that does not support this (e.g., Hanke and Dudek, 1997). The effects are not always found to be similar in magnitude or in direction for all characteristics, and sex differences are also sometimes shown (Hellerstedt and Jeffery, 1997).
