Stress level of shopkeepers and its relationship with their physical activity and body mass index: A cross-sectional study in a marketplace of Kolkata, West Bengal

Background and Objectives: Shopkeepers due to their sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity are more likely to suffer from high level of stress which, in turn, may increase the risk of various chronic diseases among them. The study aims to assess the stress level and its associated factors among shopkeepers. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional community-based study conducted from May to July 2016, among 147 shopkeepers in a permanent marketplace of Kolkata with a structured schedule. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS (version 16). Results: The mean stress score of the study participants was 8.1 ± 2.3. Only 43.7% of them were doing a moderate physical activity (≥600 MET-min/week). There was moderate correlation between stress and physical activity (ρ = 0.374, P = 0.000). Other significant correlates of stress were age (t = 2.132, P = 0.035), tobacco consumption (ρ = 0.167, P = 0.043), body mass index (ρ = 0.299, P = 0.000), and hypertension (ρ = 0.165, P = 0.046). Conclusions: Stress level among the study population was high with only two-fifths of them doing a moderate amount of physical activity. Health education regarding the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, i.e., regular physical activity, weight reduction, and quitting addiction should be given to them regularly to reduce their stress level and reduction of their risk of developing various chronic diseases.