The Effect of Fitness Level on Stress Levels in a Specific Adult Population with High Physical Activity Intensity in an Institution in the Pasuruan Region

Background: A specific adult population with high physical activity intensity in an institution in the Pasuruan region faces high physical demands and stress in the work environment. Physical fitness was measured using VO₂max estimation (Multistage Fitness Test), while stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Objective: To assess the relationship between physical fitness levels and stress levels in a specific adult population with high physical activity intensity in Pasuruan.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study in June 2025 involved 26 personnel aged 35–45 years. VO₂max was converted from MFT results and categorized as “moderate” (23.1%), ‘fair’ (65.4%), and “good” (11.5%). PSS-10 grouped stress into low (53.8%) and moderate (46.2%). Analyses included the Shapiro–Wilk normality test, Kendall’s tau_b correlation, and ordinal logistic regression.Results: The data were not normally distributed. The correlation between physical fitness and stress was very weak (τ = –0.077; p = 0.691). Conclusion: There was no significant effect of physical fitness level on stress level. Psychosocial, environmental, and thermal factors were thought to have an effect.Recommendations: Stress management programs should integrate fitness interventions, psychological support, and holistic lifestyle strategies, as well as further research with larger samples and longitudinal designs.