LECTURERS’ AWARENESS OF STRESS AND ATTITUDE TO STRESS MANAGEMENT – A CASE STUDY OF UNICAL AND CRUTECH, CALABAR

Nya John Ikpeme (PhD)

Abstract


The art of managing work stress is a vital aspect of addressing the increasing negative effect of work stress.  Stress management can be demanding because its application is sometimes unique and routine. It is driven by awareness and effectively sustained by positive attitude.  Against this backdrop, this study examined the influence of awareness of stress on lecturers’ attitude to stress management. A descriptive survey design and stratified random sampling was used to select samples from all the faculties in the two Universities in Calabar Metropolis. The research questions set out to know the relationship between lecturers’ awareness of the causes/effects of stress and their attitude to stress management. Two hypotheses were raised and tested to examine the significant relationship between lecturers’ awareness of the causes of stress as it affects their attitude to stress management on one hand and their awareness of the effect of stress on the other as it also impacts their attitude to stress management. Theoretical and empirical literature were reviewed to gain some insights into previous findings made and available gaps to be explored. Theories of reasoned action was found to be a useful theoretical framework for this study. Using a descriptive research design with survey as the research method, a structured questionnaire was administered to 475 lecturers. These lecturers were selected through a stratified random sampling method. Data were collected on lecturers’ demographic details, awareness of the causes/effect of stress and attitude to stress management. Quantitative method was adopted in analyzing the data. Inferential (deductive) statistics of Pearson Product Moment, was the statistical tool used for the analysis. Findings from this study show that there is a significant relationship between lecturer’s awareness of stress and attitude to stress management. This study recommends a strengthened effort in raising awareness of the causes and effect of work stress among lecturers in the Universities. It is also recommended that stress management units should be set up in the Universities. 

Keywords


Attitude to Stress, Awareness of Stress, Stress Management

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