The Relationship between Work Stress and Employees' Performance in Public Health Sectors: A Case of Mbeya Regional Hospital, Tanzania

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing the relationship between work stress and employees' performance in public health Sectors at Mbeya Regional Hospital in Tanzania. Descriptive cross-sectional research design informed the study, employed on a sample of 120 respondents attained through stratified sampling. The primary data were collected using structured questionnaires while secondary data were captured through documentary analysis. The multiple regression analysis was used in analyzing data with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Findings revealed that the significant number of doctors; nurses and medical attendants experience high level of job performance accompanied with moderate level of work stress. The total work stress scores were statistically significantly positively related to employees' performance. Likewise, the results showed that workplace stress sub-scales were insignificantly positively related to employees' performance. The results suggest that work place stress keeps employees on their toes leading to better performance.  The study recommends that for the hospital to maintain the current and future performance levels, its management should moderate stress levels in order to harness the positive side of work place stress, short of which the negatives side of work place stress may prevail.