Trajectories of absenteeism due to mental disorders and musculoskeletal disorders: scoping review

Introduction  Mental disorders (MD) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are causes of long and repeated absences from work.

Objective  To explore evidence on absenteeism trajectories due to MD and MSD and changes in the work history of individuals with repeated absences.

Methods  Articles published from 2013 to 2025 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish were included, reporting quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies focusing on absenteeism trajectories due to MD and MSD, addressing the illness process and its progression, the experience of presenteeism, and changes in quality of life.

Results  Eleven studies were included. The studies investigated absence trajectories from the perspective of work-related factors leading to leave, presenteeism, social and professional experiences during leave, as well as the relationship between the duration of leave and the success of the return to work.

Conclusions  Jobs with high physical demands and pain in various parts of the body were associated with prolonged and disabling absences, and more likely to result in job reassignment. Presenteeism was frequent in cases of mental illness, and for this condition, absences were longer, requiring job reassignment and early retirement.

Keywords:
Absenteeism; Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Mental Health; Scoping Review; Occupational Health