Associations Between Stress Level, Environment, and Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics in Service Sector Employees

Background : The prevalence of stress-related health issues is becoming increasingly significant. This study aimed to examine the relationships between work stress, home stress, overall stress, and individual behavioral and perceptual characteristics among middle-aged employees in the service sector. Methods : Physical activity, diet, and perceptions were assessed using the WellBeNet application (2.10.2, INRAE, Clermont-Ferrand, France) while perceived stress levels were evaluated through an online questionnaire during a one-week period. The associations between stress levels and individual and behavioral characteristics were examined using multiple linear regressions and analyses of variance. Results : General stress was significantly influenced by both work and home stress. Home stress was positively correlated with the perception of one’s silhouette in red, the increasing consumption of dairy products, and the decreasing consumption of vegetables. Work stress was inversely correlated with age and positively correlated with body shape. Conclusions : Our study identified various context markers of stress—including age, body shape, food intake, and color of the silhouette. These markers could be used in subsequent intervention studies to demonstrate causal links.