Combined exposure to adverse psychosocial work factors and medically certified absence for mental health problems: A 5-year prospective study

•High strain and ERI increased medical absence for mental health problems in women.•Each factor have an independent effect on the outcome in women.•Combined exposure to both factos led to a strong risk of the outcome in women.•Complementary definitions of combined exposure were consistent with main results.•No evidence of the effect of both stressors was found among men.