Thirteen InGaAs/InGaAsP separate-confinement heterostructure multiple quantum well lasers were designed such that the strain in the active layer from 0.9% compressive strain to 1.4% tensile, and their threshold current density was caluculated to see the effects of strain on the threshold current density. The well width was adjusted such that the bandgap of the quantum well is 1.55 ${mu}{ extrm}{m}$, For the calculation of the band structure and transition matrix element needed for the gain calculation, a block diagonalized 8$ imes$8 second-order $ o{k}. o{p}$ Hamiltonian was used to incorporate the conduction band nonparabolicity and the valence band mixing. The threshold current density shows discontinuity at 0.4% tensile strain where the first heavy-hole subband and the first light-hole subband cross and at 0.5% tensile strain where the second conduction subband begins to exist. The threshold current density at room temperature has a maximum around these 0.4-0.5% tensile strains, and as strain varies in either direction it decreases first and then increases a little after a local minimum. This calculated trend is consistent with the other reported experimental results. We discussed the results of this calculation in comparison with other theoretical or experimental papers on the effect of strain