RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND JOB SATISFACTION OF UNIVERSITY ADULT WORKERS IN ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction of university adult workers in Anambra state. Three research questions guided the study and three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The design was a correlational survey, involving 1904 respondents which included academic and nonacademic university adult workers selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. A 32item questionnaire were developed to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected were analyzed using range of scores and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient Pearson, r to answer research questions while ztest and ttest of correlation were used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed, among others, that: 1 Over 50 percent of the university adult workers have low level of occupational stress in Anambra State. 2 Over 55 percent of the university adult workers have high level of job satisfaction in Anambra State. 3 There is a very high positive relationship of 0.88 existing between the levels of occupational stress and job satisfaction of university adult workers. 4 There is a significant difference in the mean scores of academic and nonacademic university adult workers levels of occupational stress. 5 There is significant difference in the mean scores of academic and nonacademic university adult staff levels of job satisfaction. 6 There is significant relationship existing between the levels of occupational stress and job satisfaction of university adult workers. Based on the findings of the study, implications of the study were discussed; thereafter recommendations and conclusions were made. Among the recommendations are that, the government and her agencies controlling tertiary institutions should address the problems of job stress of academic and nonacademic university workers through reduction of workload. The university administrators should encourage employees assistance program through professional consultants or internal counseling and guidance unit. For example, the willingness of university administrators to provide moral and material support to workers who have experienced social and financial problems may help them to decrease daily job stress and increase their satisfaction in performing their job.

TABLE OF CONTENTSPages

TITLE PAGE i

APPROVAL PAGE ii

CERTIFICATION iii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v

ABSTRACT vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1

Background to the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 7

Purpose of the Study 9

Significance of the Study 9

Scope of the Study 11

Research Questions 11

Hypotheses for the Study 12

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 13

Conceptual Framework 13

Concept of Occupational/Job Stress 14

Concept of Job Satisfaction 28

Theoretical Framework 36

Models of Studying Job Stress 36

PersonEnvironmental Fit Model 36

Demand Control Support Stress Job Model 37

EffortReward Imbalance Job Stress Model 40

Cognitive Theory of Psychological Stress and Coping 42

Theories of Job Satisfaction 46

Herzbergs Two Factor Theory 47

The Fulfillment Theory 50

The Discrepancy Theory 52

Empirical Studies 54

Summary of Literature Reviews. 61

CHAPTER THREE: METHOD 63

Research Design 63

Area of the Study 63

Population of the Study 64

Sample and Sampling Technique 65

Instrument for Data Collection 65

Validation of the Instrument 66

Reliability of the Instrument 67

Method of Data Collection 68

Method of Data Analysis 69

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 71

Research Questions 71

Testing the Null Hypotheses 72

Summary of Findings 75

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 77

Discussion of the Results 77

Implications of the Study 81

Conclusions 82

Recommendations 84

Limitations of the Study 86

Suggestions for Further Research 86

REFERENCES 87

APPENDICES 99