Influence of occupational stress on psychological well-being of senior high school teachers in Nanumba South District, Ghana

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of occupational stress on psychological well-being of Senior High School teachers in Nanumba South District in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study used a quantitative research approach and a descriptive survey design. The population included all Senior High School teachers in the Nanumba South District. A survey sampling technique was employed to include all 101 teachers in the only Senior High School in the District. Structured questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The data was analysed using means and standard deviations. The study found that Senior High School teachers mostly felt anxious or depressed at work whenever they are stressed, sometimes they get low self-esteem when stressed up with excessive workload, there was no difficulty in working with colleagues of the opposite sex, lack of support from the immediate supervisor had no effect on the psychological well-being of Senior High School teachers in the Nanumba South District. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Senior High School teachers across the nation should device means of dealing with occupational stress such as making time for periodic relaxation (lunchtime, evenings, weekends and holidays), teachers should request for assistance and support from others whenever they feel exhausted with their task. The Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service in collaboration with school counsellors should organise frequent workshop/seminars for teachers on how to manage occupational stress.

Keywords: Stress;occupational stress; psychological well-being; senior high school; ministry of education; opposite sex; workload; sampling technique