Personality Traits as Predictors of Stress among female Teachers in Osun State Teaching Service

Abstract

The paper investigated the stress level of female teachers in Osun State Teaching Service and determined the relationship between stress and each of the personality traits of self concept, extraversion, locus of control and achievement motivation. Using a sample of 370 teachers drawn from 50 randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Osun State, data were collected using four standardized personality instruments and a Stress Assessment Inventory (SAI). The results showed that 80.3% of female teachers in Osun State Teaching Service had low level of stress; and that there was no significant relationship between stress and each of the personality traits of extraversion (r= -0.073, p>0.05), locus of control (r= 0.047, p>0.05); self concept (r = -0.101 p>0.05) and achievement motivation (r= -0.013 p>0.05). The results also showed that marital status of female teachers significantly influenced the stress experienced by them (F= 3.44 p<0.05). Specifically, women who were divorced experienced more stress (X = 87.00) than those who were single (X = 83.97) or married (X = 77.58). The study concluded that personality traits were not substantial predictors of the level of stress experienced by female teachers in Osun State Teaching Service.

Key Words: personality, stress, burn-out, job-stress, predictor.