Abstract:

Objective: This sort to determine the predictors of stress and the coping mechanism practiced among lecturers of tertiary institutions in Abuja, Nigeria.

Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design and it adopted the simple balloting and purposive sampling. A 33-item semi-structured questionnaire was validated at Cronbach alpha 0.82. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 to compute descriptive and inferential statistics which were statistically tested at a 5% level of significance.

Results: Mean age of respondents was 36±0.9, 120 (32%). The level of knowledge on stress among respondents was below average 157 (42.0%). The respondent’s attitude revealed that majority had negative attitudinal disposition to stress 231 (61.8%). Lecturers’ environmental reinforcing factor was recorded as 246 (65.8%). Enabling factors that enhance teaching were identified to be insufficient within the tertiary institutions was recorded 249 (66.6%) and the stress coping mechanism was above average performance 234 (62.6%). There is significant relationship between Attitudinal disposition of respondents towards stress coping mechanism p=0.000, R=0.317 and Enabling factors that promote stress and stress coping mechanism p=0.000, R=0.103. There is sufficient statistical evidence to conclude that enabling factors was the most predicting variable among the two independent variables. r²=0.103, p=0.000.

Conclusion: Training and seminars to address the personal predisposing factors can enhance better coping mechanism and increase knowledge on stress. An adjustment to enabling factors can reinforce the delivery of service.

Keywords: Stress, Lecturers, Predictors, Coping mechanism, Tertiary institutions.

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