Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain and Psychological Stress Among Bank Employees in Quetta and Their Association with Ergonomic Awareness

Abstract

Background: Bank employees often work long hours in sedentary conditions, which may lead to
musculoskeletal pain and psychological stress. Identifying these problems is important for improving
employee health and workplace performance.
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and psychological stress among bank
employees in Quetta, Pakistan, and examine their association with ergonomic awareness, workplace
practices, and organisational support.
Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among bank employees in Quetta from
January to March 2026. A total of 180 bank employees were approached, with 176 complete responses
included in the final analysis (response rate 97.8%). A self-administered questionnaire assessed
demographics, ergonomic awareness, musculoskeletal pain (12-month and 7-day prevalence), and
psychological stress. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS. Chi-square tests examined relationships between
ergonomic awareness, musculoskeletal pain, and psychological stress. Ethical approval and informed consent
were obtained.
Result: The age of respondents was 41±8 . Males comprised 137 (76.1%). Ergonomic awareness was low, 30
(16.7%), and only 24 (13.3%) had received formal ergonomic training. The most common musculoskeletal
complaints were eye strain 162 (89.8%), shoulder pain 159 (88.6%), and neck pain 138 (76.7%). Pain in the
last 7 days was reported by 159 (88.6%) of participants, and 132 (73.3%) attributed their pain directly to their
job. Psychological stress was highly prevalent, with long working hours 166 (92.0%), heavy workload 148
(82.4%), customer pressure 138 (76.7%), and poor work-life balance 138 (76.7%) as the main stressors. Chi
square tests showed statistically significant associations between low ergonomic awareness and higher
psychological stress (p < 0.01), and between poor ergonomic practices and increased musculoskeletal pain (p
< 0.001).
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain and psychological stress are highly prevalent among bank employees in
Quetta and are strongly associated with insufficient ergonomic awareness, poor workplace practices, and high
occupational demands. Targeted ergonomic interventions and stress management programs are urgently
needed to improve employee health and productivity.