Critical Stressors and Performance of Academic Staff in Federal Polytechnics in South East Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated critical stressors and the performance of academic staff in federal polytechnics in South East Nigeria. Structural questionnaire was the principal tool used in eliciting information from 315 respondents drawn from the study population. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were used in the analysis of data. The findings revealed workload, time pressure and poor working conditions as the critical factors leading to stress among academic staff of federal polytechnics of South East Nigeria. The study shows that workload with an eigen value of 2.382 explained 34.026% of the variance, while time pressure with an eigen-value of 1.420 explained 20.28% of the variance and poor working conditions with an eigen-value of 1.029 explained 14.702% of the variance. These three factors explained 69% of the variance. The researcher concludes that work stress among academic staff in federal polytechnics of South East Nigeria is widespread and lends support to the growing evidence that higher educational institutions no longer provide the low-stress working environment they once did. If the management and government show adequate concern towards the welfare of academic staff, work-related stress would be reduced and the result would be an improvement in the quality of education and the provision of a talented and competent workforce in the country. The researcher recommends that the management of the polytechnic should reduce the excess workload by engaging more lecturers within available resources either on a full-time or part-time basis.