Predictors of stress among academic staff of Makerere University in Uganda

Abstract

The study analysed the predictive influence of intra-organisational factors, extraorganisational factors and the moderating influence of personal factors on stress among academic staff. The study employed a pragmatism paradigm, cross sectional survey with convergent parallel survey approach. Data were collected from a sample of 253 respondents, selected using disproportionate stratified sampling for colleges and staff, and purposive sampling for administrators. Quantitative data were collected using a stress questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative data were collected using a structured interview and analysed thematically. The findings revealed that intraorganisational factors and extra-organisational factors predicted stress and personal factors had a moderating influence on stress among academic staff. The combined predictors and moderators contributed 41.9% of the variance in academic staff (Adjusted R2 = 0.419). Findings showed that there is high stress at 74.38% reported by academic staff of Makerere University. Therefore, it was concluded that intra-organisational factors and extraorganisational factors have a bearing on stress amongst academic staff, and personal factors interact with intra-organisational and extra-organisational factors to cause stress among academic staff. A new model has been confirmed and interventions suggested. It was thus recommended that managers and supervisors of academic staff in universities should ensure that, the Government of Uganda and management of universities should consider the economic status of academic staff improved to curtail stress among them, and the government of Uganda and management of universities should put mechanisms such as health insurance for staff and their families to ensure personal health of academic staff is well catered for.