Work Stress and Job Satisfaction among Staff in a New Medical University
Christie N. Mato
Coordinator of Clinicals & Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences (on Sabbatical), PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Rex Friday Ogoronte A. Ijah *
Department of Surgery, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, and Consultant General Surgeon, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Nkemsinachi M. Onodingene
Department of Hematology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Consultant Hematologist, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Michael I. Ogamba
Department of Chemical Pathology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Friday E. Aaron
Department of Surgery, PAMO University of Medical Sciences / Rivers State University, and Consultant Orthopedics & Trauma Surgeon, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Beniboba J. Eleki
Department of Internal Medicine, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, and Consultant Physician, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Boma Athanasius
Department of Anatomic Pathology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences / Rivers State University, and Consultant Anatomical Pathologist, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Mienye Bob-Manuel
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, and Consultant Medical Microbiologist, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Emmanuel N. Aguwa
Department of Community Medicine, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, and Consultant Community Physician, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Services rendered in exchange for reward or payment may be referred to as a job. Different rewards exist for different services; however, some services are associated with varying levels of discomfort, deprivations or denials which the individual may perceive as stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction among members of staff in a new medical university in the year 2020/2021.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among total population of members of staff in a private medical university, using a pretested questionnaire. Data was analysed using The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.
Results: A total of one hundred and twenty-eight (128) respondents were involved in the study. There were 52 (40.6%) lecturers. The cumulative mean score for academic workload, work environment, student-related issues, and research and career development was 10.84. There was unwillingness among a variable number of staff (between 19 (14.8%) and 71 (55.5%)) to comment on job satisfaction. Fewer respondents strongly agreed with positive items of assessment for job satisfaction. A statistically significant inverse difference was found between job stress and job satisfaction.
Conclusion: Although varied degrees of work stress were recorded among the university staff, the cumulative average stress score was high. Fewer respondents strongly agreed with positive items of assessment for job satisfaction, and a few staff were unwilling to provide responses on job satisfaction. Efforts should be intensified to reduce stress among staff with the goal of improving job satisfaction.
Keywords: Job satisfaction, work stress, private university staff, Port Harcourt, Nigeria