Association between job strain and sick leave: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Sick leave imposes large costs on society, and job strain is one of the factors leading to sick leave. A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies was conducted to address job strain and its association with sick leave. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed and Scopus databases were reviewed, in addition to searches in Google Scholar and ResearchGate to ensure the inclusion of any grey literature articles. After screening the studies, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses principles, articles with longitudinal design were found desirable for meta-analysis. The risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated, and publication bias was examined. Eighteen longitudinal cohort studies were selected. Job strain and sick leave were found to be associated, and the RR of this association was equal to 1.44. Risk of sick leave based on job strain in men and women was equal to 1.66 (95% CI: 1.15–2.40) and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.08–1.24), respectively. The results showed no publication bias as per Begg's test. Job strain was associated with an increased risk of sick leave. Occupational conditions have significant effects on the risk of sick leave—one of which is job strain. Therefore, improving organisational conditions can have a significant impact on reducing sick leave. •Job strain is associated with the risk of sick leave.•In men and women, the relationship between job strain and sick leave was significant.•There was a significant relationship between job strain and sick leave due to mental illness.