Introduction. The study assessed musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) in administrative workers, associating MSCs with non-paid housework, home use of electronic devices and physical exercise, while keeping a distinctive gender approach. This may promote the development of more effective preventive measures, by meeting the specific strengths and weaknesses of each gender.

Method. 96 administrative workers (58 women and 38 men) who used computers more than 50% of their working time participated in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire concerning individual socio-demographic data, habits and lifestyle, and including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), was deployed. Gender based odd ratios for MSCs in body areas over the previous 12 months and correlation coefficients between habits and lifestyle variables and NMQ variables were computed.

Results. Women did not incur a higher risk of MSC than men. Analysis of association did not yield meaningful associations for either gender. Results suggest giving future consideration to development of a gender specific preventive measures.

Conclusion. Computerized work performed concomitantly with physical exposures outside the workplace, showed mixed associations with MSCs, according to gender and depending on kind of exposure. Results are indicative of the need for development of gender specific preventive measures.