EFFECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS ON JOB PERFORMANCE AMONG PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN KURESOI SUB-COUNTY, NAKURU COUNTY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of occupational stress on job performance among public primary school teachers in Kuresoi Sub County of Nakuru County. A survey research design was employed and responses on how occupational stress affects job performance of teachers‟ were collected using questionnaires. The target population of the study consisted of teachers from the four divisions in Kuresoi subcounty of Nakuru County with a sum total of 1237 teachers spread out in 181 public primary schools. Stratified random sampling was used to select 64 public primary schools and 191 teachers to participate in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire and data analysis was done using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).The study findings indicate that employer related factors significantly affects job performance among public primary school teachers in the Sub-County (β =0.094, p = 0.042). Personal related factors were also found to have a significant effect on the job related occupational stress factors (β =0.166, p=0.018). Finally the study found that all independent variables are fitted in a multiple linear regression model they can explain change in job performance by up to 81% The major conclusion from the findings is that occupational stress factors considered in this study affect job performance of public primary school teachers in Kuresoi sub-county. The study therefore recommend that Ministry of Education and TSC should develop a policy on stress management; there is a need to provide proper conducive environment and support to teachers to maintain individual occupational stress at their station and that regular assessment of occupational stress level should be conducted for preventive measures. More studies should however be done on the other public primary schools in other districts across the country and consider to investigate the levels of stress of teachers in relation to their biological, psychological and social systems and on the long term effects of occupational stress to teachers