Occupational Stress among Lecturers: The Case of Female Lecturers in University Education, Winneba
Veronica Esinam Eggley *
Department of Counselling Psychology, University of Education, Winneba, Post Office Box 25, Winneba, Ghana.
Joshua-Luther Ndoye Upoalkpajor
Department of Counselling Psychology, University of Education, Winneba, Post Office Box 25, Winneba, Ghana.
Alfred Alunga Anovunga
Department of Counselling Psychology, University of Education, Winneba, Post Office Box 25, Winneba, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore occupational stress among female lecturers in University of Education, Winneba. Two research questions were framed to guide the study. A triangulatory mixed method approach of quantitative and qualitative methods were used in order to obtain a fuller picture on female lecturers’ stress with future recommendations grounded in the research. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Seventy-five respondents were selected using purposive sampling method using structured questionnaires and six were interviewed using semi-structured interview guide. The results revealed that the causes of stress among the female lecturers are abundant and wide-ranging extending from heavy workload, pressure from meeting deadlines, overlapping responsibilities, demands from career expectations, to working home at the expense of rest among others. Stress experienced by female lecturers affected their work as well as their home life. The study recommended amongst others that the university should reduce the workload of female lecturers by employing the services of more lecturers or Teaching Assistants and also female lecturers should be supported to manage stress through counselling and assertive training.
Keywords: Occupation, stress, distress, stress management, workplace