Predictors of Stress in Nigerian Executives

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify predictors of stress in Nigerian executives. Three hundred and twenty managers in low, middle and top level managerial positions in both public and private sectors respectively responded to the Stress Response Rating Scale for Executives (SRRSE) constructed by the researcher. Eight major predictor variables of workload, role, career prospects, organizational structure and climate, interpersonal relations, environment, home and private life were tested using simple regression analysis. Also, public and private sector executives were compared on the basis of age and working experience. All results were significant at P < 0.5 level. Findings showed that career
prospects were the best predictor of stress in the executives, while \"role\" was the least. Also a combination of career prospects on one hand and home and private life on another hand resulted in more stress for the executives than any other combination. Middle - level
managers were much affected by the predictor variable of career prospects than the other two levels. The t-test analysis showed that public sector executives experienced more stress than their private sector counterparts, while a oneway ANOVA showed that younger
executives experienced more stress from each of the predictor variables than their older counterparts. These findings implied that counsellors and counsellor educators must provide useful information to counsellees who seek a career in management in Nigeria.

Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 6 (1&2) 1998: pp. 43-66