Stress Management and Employees’ Job Performance Among Non-Academic Staff of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State

Abstract

The study investigated stress management and employees’ job performance among non-academic staff of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. Very low and poor employees’ job performance in general and among non-academic staff in specific term has been found to have contributed to Universities poor rating in developing countries with stress reported as one of possible factors. To ascertain this, the following specific objectives were postulated; investigating the causes of stress among the non-academic staff, existing stress management techniques, effect of Bowen University stress management techniques on employees’ job performance; and perception of employees on the effectiveness of stress management techniques among non-academic staff in Bowen University.

The study adopted survey design through six hundred and ninety-seven (697) non-academic staff of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. With this population, Yamane formula was used to determine sample size of the study which was three hundred and fifty (350) non-academic member of the University while stratified and simple random sampling techniques were adopted to ensure adequate representation of non-academic staff of the university in the sample size. Structured questionnaire was distributed to the sampled size, out of which two hundred and sixty (260) copies of the questionnaire was returned. However, only two hundred and sixty (260) copies of the questionnaire returned were found duly completed and used for the analysis. Data collected was analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results identified workload as the highest stressor among the ten stressors rated in the University. Similarly, regular physical exercise, adequate sleep and cordial relationship were common individual stress management techniques while stress management seminar and workshops, leave, and provision of healthcare facilities were identified as Bowen University’s stress management techniques. It was also discovered that employees’ perception of stress management effectiveness in the University is good. While further finding revealed that stress management significantly affect employees’ job performance in the University. The study concluded that stress management is inevitable in the university; however, the level of its management would have impact employees’ job performance. Hence, the study recommended that Bowen University management should review stress management policy to accommodate other pressing areas such as consistency in organising stress management trainings, proper follow-up on employees’ health status based medical report, workload of staff while the non-academic staff in the University should also do regular exercise, maintain good health and take balance diet, visit hospital for check-up at reasonable intervals, attend health talk and workshop, order responsibilities and attend to them in a timely manner.