WORKPLACE STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA

Abstract

The study considered workplace stress and coping strategies among academic staff of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of the academia in the study area, determined the causes of workplace stress experienced by them, determined the effects of workplace stress on the academia in the study area and ascertained the coping strategies adopted by the academia in the study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 75 respondents used for the study. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire and was analysed using appropriate descriptive statistical tools. The findings of the study revealed that a majority (77.0%) of the respondents were males and that the mean age of the respondents was 41 years. The mean year of experience on the job of the respondents was 10 years. Furthermore, the finding of the study revealed that heavy workload (x = 4.66) is the leading cause of workplace stress for the respondents and that the greatest effect of workplace stress on respondents was poor health (x = 3.09) and feelings of burnout (x = 2.95). The significant coping strategies utilised by respondents included proper time management (x = 2.55) and relaxation with family (x = 2.47). The study concluded that the greatest stressor of the academia is heavy workload. The study thereby recommended that the University should uphold the recommended student-lecturer ratio established by the National University Commission to reduce the workplace stress of the academia in the university.