Job Satisfaction and Psychological Health of Staff in a Nigerian University

Abstract

Background: Job satisfaction is the extent to which people like their jobs and the positive perception towards work. Work experiences have  significant influence on psychological health. This study assessed job satisfaction and psychological health of university staff in a Nigerian university.

Methods: Four hundred and sixty-one respondents selected by a two-stage cluster sampling technique participated in this descriptive cross-  sectional study. Psychological health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ 12). Data was analyzed using SPSS (26.0). Level  of significance set at p ≤ 0.05 and results presented using of tables and graphs.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36.02 ± 9.12 years, 261 (56.6%) were males, 311 (67.5%) married, all were literate and 380 (82.4%)  had been in employment for up to 10 years, (mean duration of employment = 8.3 ± 6.92 years). Overall, 316 (68.5%) of staff were satisfied with their  jobs and 342 (74.2%) were in psychologically stable health. Self-reported factors like job security, relationships with co-workers and supervisors  impacted positively on job satisfaction while others like amount of paid vacation and promotion opportunity did not. Psychological disorder  occurred more significantly among staff dissatisfied with their jobs p<0.001.

Conclusion: A majority of staff were satisfied with their jobs and were in psychologically stable health. There is need to address factors impacting  negatively on job satisfaction to further improve psychological health of university staff.