RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Articles

Fabiola Mamani Soliz

Universidad Adventista de Bolivia

fabiola.mamani@uab.edu.bo

ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4472-6319

Daniel Omar Ajhuacho Chambi

Universidad Adventista de Bolivia/Docente

daniel.ajhuacho@uab.edu.bo

ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7903-7378

Abstract: This study analyzes the relationship

between physical activity and occupational stress

among drivers of the Línea 6 de Agosto during the

2025 period. Using a quantitative approach and a

non-experimental correlational design, a sample of

40 drivers was assessed through the Global

Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and the

Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to measure the

level of physical activity and the dimensions of

occupational stress—emotional exhaustion,

depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

The results showed that 52.5% of drivers had a

moderate level of physical activity, 35% a low level,

and only 12.5% a high level. Regarding

occupational stress, 40% reported medium levels

and 25% high levels. The Spearman correlation

analysis revealed a strong and statistically

significant negative relationship (rho = -0.868, p =

0.000) between physical activity and occupational

stress, indicating that higher levels of physical

activity are associated with lower stress levels.

These findings highlight the importance of

promoting physical activity in the workplace as a

strategy to mitigate stress. It is concluded that

encouraging exercise programs can significantly

contribute to the physical and mental well-being of

public transport drivers, improving their quality of

life and job performance.

Key words: Physical activity, Occupational stress,

Public transport drivers, Burnout, GPAQ, Maslach

Burnout Inventory.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-

NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License.

Relationship between the level of physical activity and the level of work-

related stress in drivers

Mamani Soliz, Fabiola

; Ajhuacho Chambi, Daniel O.

RIAF. International Journal of Physical Activity

Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador

Frequency: Semi-annual

Vol. 4, Num. 2, 2026

revista.riaf@ug.edu.ec

Received: January 16th, 2026

Approved: May 31

, 2026

Published: July 25

, 2026

URL: https://revistas.ug.edu.ec/index.php/riaf

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53591/riaf.v4i2.2990

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RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

Introduction

Due to the current pace of life and high work demands, caring for physical and mental health has

become essential. In this context, exercise is considered essential for maintaining health and individual

balance, as it contributes both to strengthening the body and mitigating the harmful effects of stress

and pressure at work.

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles,

whether through active movements or the adoption of sustained postures. These actions, present in

daily life from walking to performing work tasks, increase the body's energy expenditure. "This energy

expenditure is fundamental for maintaining health, as well as for the physical and emotional balance of

the individual" (Ceballos, 2021).

"Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement generated by muscle contraction that involves

energy expenditure above basal metabolism. It includes both daily activities, such as walking or doing

household chores, as well as the practice of exercises and sports aimed at health or physical

performance. Beyond its physiological benefits, physical activity contributes to emotional and social

well-being by encouraging group interaction and improving people's quality of life" (WHO, 2020). This

comprehensive conceptualization allows us to understand physical activity not only as a physiological

phenomenon but also as a social experience that significantly influences multiple dimensions of human

well-being.

On the other hand, work-related stress constitutes a considerably serious health problem. However, it

is important to differentiate the general concept of stress from that specifically linked to the workplace.

In this regard, "work-related stress is a phenomenon present throughout all stages of life, within the

occupational field" (Patlán, 2023, p. 46), which demonstrates its relevance and the need to address it

through appropriate prevention and management strategies, aimed at individuals exposed to

occupational stressors that negatively impact their well-being.

"Work-related stress is conceptualized as the physical, emotional, and psychological response generated

when the demands and pressures of the work environment exceed the worker's capacities and

resources to cope with them effectively" (WHO, 2020). This response can manifest through symptoms

such as anxiety, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and alterations in physical health, including

increased blood pressure.

Recent literature presents diverse findings on the role of physical activity (PA) in mitigating work-

related stress. In studies with large samples, a significant inverse correlation has been shown; for

example, Koriyama (2025) demonstrated in 7,192 Japanese workers that performing PA more than

twice a week significantly reduces perceived stress. Similarly, Suárez (2024) and Flores (2021) reported

that PA (Physical Activity) acts as a protective factor against emotional exhaustion and overweight in

university settings in Colombia and Peru, respectively.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

However, the evidence is not unanimous in

specific contexts. Smaller-scale studies, such as

those by Marín (2021) in Colombia and Panama,

and Guacapiña (2022) in Ecuador, found no

statistically significant correlations between the

two variables. These authors suggest that external

factors—such as COVID-19 pandemic

lockdowns or sample size limitations—may

mediate these results. In conclusion, although

there is a trend linking exercise to occupational

health, the need for structured interventions and

larger-scale studies is emphasized to clarify its

effectiveness as a preventive strategy.

The central purpose of the research is to

determine the relationship between the level of

physical activity and work-related stress among

drivers of the "Línea 6 de Agosto" transit line

during the 2025 management period. To achieve

this objective, the following specific goals are

proposed:

1. Assess the predominant level of physical

activity in the sample.

2. Identify the dimensions of work-related

stress: emotional exhaustion,

depersonalization, and personal

accomplishment.

3. Statistically contrast the association

between exercise practice and perceived

stress levels.

Research hypotheses:

• H1 (Alternative): There is a significant

relationship between the level of physical activity

and work-related stress among the evaluated

drivers.

H0 (Null): There is no statistically significant

relationship between the level of physical activity

and work-related stress in the study population.

Material and Method

The study is based on a positivist paradigm with

a quantitative approach and a realist ontology

(Hernández-Sampieri et al., 2014). The design is

non-experimental, cross-sectional, and

correlational in scope, aimed at determining the

relationship between the level of physical activity

and work-related stress without manipulating the

variables.

Population and Sample

The population consisted of 40 drivers (owners

and chauffeurs) from the "Sindicato Mixto de

Autotransporte 6 de agosto" in Sipe Sipe,

Cochabamba. A non-probabilistic convenience

sampling method was used. The inclusion

criteria required a minimum seniority of six

months and being an active driver;

administrative staff, assistants, and drivers on a

break or not registered were excluded.

Instruments

Two validated instruments were used for data

collection:

1. Global Physical Activity

Questionnaire (GPAQ) from the

WHO (2023): Adapted to quantify

physical activity at work, during travel,

and leisure time.

2. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): A

22-item Likert-type scale to assess

emotional exhaustion, depersonalization,

and personal accomplishment. Both

instruments demonstrated high reliability

(Cronbach's Alpha > 0.80).

Procedure and Statistical Analysis

Prior to signing the informed consent form, data

collection was conducted in person and

supervised.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

The data were processed using SPSS software

version 27. Due to the population size (N=40),

the Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to verify the

normality of the variables. The analysis included

descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages,

means, and standard deviations) and inferential

statistics for hypothesis testing based on the data

distribution.

Results

Descriptive analysis of physical activity

and job stress

The analysis of the population (N=40) using

the GPAQ instrument revealed that most drivers

on the "Línea 6 de Agosto" maintain moderate or

insufficient levels of physical activity. Specifically,

52.5% fall into a moderate level, while a

significant 35% present a low level, leaving only

12.5% of the population in the high physical

activity category.

Regarding job stress, measured with the

Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the results

indicate that 40% of drivers experience a

moderate level of stress, followed by 35% with a

low level and 25% reporting high levels. When

breaking down stress by its dimensions,

emotional exhaustion manifested at a moderate

level in 50% of the subjects. Depersonalization

presented a high level in 30% of cases, making it

the dimension with the greatest critical impact,

while personal fulfillment remained mostly at a

moderate level (57.5%).

Correlational analysis and hypothesis

testing

To determine the relationship between the

variables, Spearman's correlation coefficient (rho)

was applied after verifying non-normality of the

data using the Shapiro-Wilk test (p < 0.05). The

findings confirmed a high and statistically

significant negative correlation.

significant relationship between physical activity

and overall work stress (rho = -0.868; p = 0.000).

This value allows us to reject the null hypothesis

and accept the research hypothesis, showing that

the greater the practice of physical activity, the

lower the stress levels in drivers.

Regarding the specific dimensions, physical

activity showed a very strong negative association

with emotional exhaustion (rho = -0.753; p =

0.000) and a moderate-to-strong negative

correlation with depersonalization (rho = -0.699;

p = 0.000). Finally, a weaker but still significant

negative relationship was found with personal

accomplishment (rho = -0.291; p = 0.000). These

data suggest that physical exercise has a primary

preventive impact on psychological burnout and

cynical detachment from the work environment

in this group of workers.

Discussion

The findings of this research demonstrate a high,

statistically significant negative correlation (rho =

-0.868; p < 0.001) between physical activity (PA)

and work stress in drivers from the "Línea 6 de

Agosto" [August 6th Line]. This association is

notably higher than that reported by Suárez in

2024, Flores in 2021, and Koriyama in 2025,

suggesting that in the urban transport sector —

characterized by forced sedentary behavior and

high environmental demands — PA plays an

even more critical and pronounced protective

role. The prevalence of moderate and low levels

of PA (87.5%) and the high stress detected (65%)

coincide with the reality of a work environment

characterized by long working hours and few

opportunities for self-care.

While studies such as that by Suárez et al. (2024)

confirm that PA reduces emotional exhaustion,

the discrepancies found with Marín et al. (2021),

who found no significance during confinement

periods, reinforce that the PA-stress relationship

is mediated by contextual factors.

RIAF Journal ISSN: 2953-6693 Vol – 4 No. 2, July 2026

In the present study, the monotonous and

stressful nature of the transport service seems to

enhance the effectiveness of exercise as a coping

mechanism.

Nevertheless, the fact that 25% of the sample

presents high stress levels suggests that PA,

although essential, must be complemented with

therapeutic interventions and psychological

support, especially in cases where there are

psychosocial barriers or pre-existing health

problems. As proposed by Mejía et al. (2021), the

solution requires on-site intervention programs

specifically designed for the rhythms of public

transport.

Despite the limitations of this study, such as

the sample size (N=40) and the cross-sectional

design, which prevents establishing definitive

causality, the research has methodological

strengths due to the use of internationally

validated instruments (GPAQ and MBI) and its

originality in the Bolivian context. In conclusion,

the null hypothesis is rejected, and it is confirmed

that promoting PA is an essential strategy to

mitigate emotional exhaustion and

depersonalization, directly impacting the driver's

occupational health and, by extension, the road

safety of the community.

Conclusion

First, a negative correlation of high magnitude

and statistical significance was determined

between the level of physical activity and work

stress (rho = -0.868; p < 0.001). These results

allow us to reject the null hypothesis and confirm

that increased physical activity practice is robustly

associated with reduced psychological tension in

the evaluated drivers, consolidating exercise as a

modulating variable of occupational stress.

Second. Regarding the physical activity profile, a

predominance of medium levels (52.5%) and low

levels (35.0%), revealing a pattern of structural

sedentary behavior in the sector. This

insufficiency of vigorous or moderate physical

activity limits the physiological and psychological

coping mechanisms, increasing workers'

vulnerability to the chronic demands of their

work environment.

Third. The diagnosis of work stress revealed

that 65% of the sample falls within moderate to

critical levels, with emotional exhaustion being

the most prevalent dimension (50% at a medium

level). Likewise, the observed levels of

depersonalization suggest a latent risk of

deterioration in service quality and drivers' mental

health, which justifies the need for urgent

preventive interventions.

Fourth. The dimensional analysis showed that

physical activity has a greater protective effect on

emotional exhaustion (rho = -0.753) compared to

depersonalization and personal accomplishment.

The weaker relationship found in this latter

dimension suggests that satisfaction and

professional achievement in public transport are

subject to extrinsic and structural factors that

transcend individual lifestyle.

Fifth. In summary, the empirical evidence

obtained positions structured physical activity as

a highly effective occupational health strategy.

The findings underscore the relevance of

designing public policies and institutional

programs that promote on-site physical

activation, in order to mitigate psychosocial risks

and improve road safety in urban transport in the

region.

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