CAUSES, LEVELS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF PSYCHOOGICAL STRESS AMONG TEACHERS IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MAARA SUB-COUNTY, THARAKA NITHI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Teachers in public primary schools handle large classes because of the introduction of free primary education, a policy whose implementation has not been accompanied by adequate human resources to enhance its implementation. This may have led to stress among the public primary school teachers. The purpose of the study was therefore to establish the causes, levels and management strategies of psychological stress among Public Primary School Teachers in Maara Sub County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed stress levels, their causes and management strategies of stress among the public primary school teachers. The study employed a descriptive survey design using quantitative approach. The study targeted 992 public primary school teachers from which a sample of 278 teachers was selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Validity of the instrument was ascertained through the expert opinion of University supervisors. Prior to data collection, the study instrument was administered to 35 teachers in Igamba Ng’ombe Sub-County to pretest the research instrument. A set of 231 questionnaires were obtained implying a return rate of 83.1%. Data obtained was edited, coded and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 23 computer software using frequency, percentages, means and standard deviation as well as Chi Square based on research objectives. The study established that a majority of the public primary school teachers had high stress levels. A majority of the teachers were distressed because of occurrences that happened suddenly. They felt that they were unable to control significant things at their work places and had nervous feelings and being stressed. The high level of stress was attributed to overwhelming situations, cause and effect, environment, conflict and alienation. A majority of teachers reported resorting to guidance and counselling, spiritual activities, exercises, use of drugs and optimism in managing work related psychological stress. The study recommends that the administration of public primary schools ensure that teachers have an enabling environment within which they have control over important things at their work places to help lower their stress levels. It was also recommended that public primary school teachers be assisted to minimise alienation, overload, conflicts and information gap in order to lower their stress levels. It is also important that public primary school teachers are encouraged and aided to adopt effective stress management strategies such as guidance and counselling, optimism, spiritual activities as well as involvement in physical activities even as they discharge their duties.