ABSTRACT
Background. Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease in the world today and work strain might be related with nicotine dependence by its provoking effect.  
Objective. To assess the association between occupational stress and nicotine dependence.  
Material and methods. A cross sectional survey was conducted among 200 subjects visiting a satellite dental clinic of Swami Devi Dyal Hospital and Dental College, Barwala, Panchkula, India. Nicotine dependence was measured using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). The extent of the stress factors experienced at work was assessed us­ing the Effort-Reward Imbalance scale (ERI). Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were employed for statistical analysis. Confidence level and level of significance were set at 95% and 5% respectively.  
Results. The results of bivariate analysis revealed association of occupational stress with age, marital status, educational status, level of nicotine dependence, frequency of cigarette smoking and religious attendance. However, multivariate analysis elicited the significant association of occupational stress with only two variables, level of nicotine dependence and frequency of smoking.  
Conclusion. Occupational stress was found to be associated with nicotine dependence in the present study implying a need of other tranquil measures to be incorporated for the relief of work related stress.