Meaning in life buffers the association between clinical anxiety and global maladjustment in participants with common mental disorders on sick leave

•Meaning in life buffered the association between anxiety and maladjustment.•Meaning in life buffered the association between negative affect and maladjustment.•Meaning in life is a relevant variable in the adjustment of common mental disorders on sick leave. An important goal of mental health specialists is to improve the quality of life and the adaptation of people with common mental disorders on sick leave. Meaning in life is a protective factor for people adjusting to distress and negative events. This study explores the buffering role of meaning in life in the relationship between clinical anxiety or negative affect and maladjustment in participants with common mental disorders on sick leave. The sample was 167 participants with Adjustment, Anxiety and, Depressive Disorders; n = 115 were women and n = 52 men. Participants’ mean age M = 42.16 (SD = 9.91) years. We performed zero-order correlations and hierarchical regression analyses. Meaning in life moderated and buffered the association between clinical anxiety or negative affect and global maladjustment to daily life. These findings suggest that Meaning in life is a relevant variable in the adjustment of common mental disorders on sick leave.