Spatial analysis of socio-demographic characteristics and stress management among female teachers in public schools in Rivers State: an intervention study

Abstract

This study focused on the spatial analysis of socio-demographic characteristics and stress management among female teachers in public secondary schools in Rivers State. The research design employed for the study was a pretest-posttest control group design. The population for the study consisted of 3,461 female secondary school teachers in Rivers State with a sample size of 376 selected using the multi-stage sampling procedure. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.87. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation (SD) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) set at 0.05 alpha level. The result of the study showed that, the intervention had a significant effect [F(1,198)=0.16, P< 0.027] on stress management strategies among female civil servants (teachers), The result of the ANCOVA showed that the intervention had no significant effect [F(7,138)=0.31, P< 0.78] on the stress management strategies among female civil servants (teachers) based on age. The intervention had no significant effect [F(5,138)=0.04, P< 0.61] on the stress management strategies among female civil servants (teachers) based on their years of work experience. Also, the intervention had no significant effect [F(5,138)=0.03, P< 0.75] on the stress management strategies among female civil servants (teachers) based on marital status. It was concluded that socio-demographic characteristics are key variables to consider when designing occupational health intervention for teachers on stress management. It was recommended among others that, the Government should make the teachers comfortable in their working place by building more offices for teachers in the public schools. This will make them to be more relaxed, focused and do their work better with minimal stress.