This 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.