Objectives Information and communication technology (ICT) stress is a new type of work-related stress, which is common in modern working life. The prospective association between ICT stress and health have not previously been examined, to the best of our knowledge. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective association between exposure of ICT stress and development of suboptimal self-rated health, including potential differences in this association due to sex or socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods A prospective design was applied, utilising data from three waves of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH). The analytical sample comprised 4468 gainfully employed people (1941 men, 2527 women, mean age 47.3 years) with good self-rated health at baseline. ICT stress was measured at two points of time, two years apart, and self-rated health was measured at follow-up two years later. Logistic regression analyses were used to derive odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results In the total study sample, exposure of ICT stress at two points of time was associated with suboptimal self-rated health at follow-up (OR 1.34 [CI: 1.06–1.70], adjusted for age, sex, SES, lifestyle, BMI, job strain and social support). This association was stronger in men (OR 1.53 [CI: 1.09–2.16]) than in women (OR 1.17 [CI: 0.85–1.62]). Regarding SES, ICT stress exposure at two point of time was more prevalent in participants with high SES, but in the multivariable adjusted analyses, the strongest association between ICT stress and suboptimal self-rated health was observed among participants with low SES (OR 1.67 [CI: 1.04–2.66]), adjusted for age, sex, SES, lifestyle, BMI, job strain and social support).

Conclusion Exposure of ICT stress at two point of time was associated with increased risk of developing suboptimal self-rated health during follow-up, especially among men and in low SES groups.