Effects of stress on job performance in Uganda Prisons Service: A case study of Kampala Extra Region.
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Date
2014-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Abstract
This research was carried out in Uganda Prisons Service particularly in Kampala Extra
Region, Kampala district and the topic was to investigate the effects of stress on Job
performance in Uganda Prisons Service — Kampala Extra Region. The study Allowed the
following objectives; to examine the effects of stress on job performance in Uganda
Prisons Service, to find out how the workers in prison setting understand stress, to
establish the causes of stress in Prison settings- Kampala Extra Region, and to investigate
the impacts of st~ess on workers in Uganda Prisons Service. The study used a descriptive
research design combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Descriptive
research design was used to examine the relationship between stress, job satisfaction and
job performance. In so doing, the research used different methods of data collection such
as questionnaires, interviews and observations to establish the effects of stress on Job
performance in Uganda Prisons Service.
The study had the following key findings:
It was found out that most workers of Uganda Prisons Service do experience stress in
their work. Findings also reveal that mental stress is the most common usually at 50.5%
among workers of Uganda Prisons Service- Kampala Extra Region.
Findings from 160 respondents showed that most workers of Uganda Prisons Service do
experience feelings of headache, anxiety and dizziness whenever stressed.
98% of respondents revealed that stress is to a great extent unconstructive as far as
promoting productivity is concerned in work.
More findings pointed to the fact that most workers of UPS- Kampala Extra Region give
less priority to utilizing counseling services of the institution in event of stress hut rather
prefer to opening up to close friends whenever stressed.
It was also discovered from 54.6% of the respondents that workers of UPS-KER value
the need for periodic trainings on stress management for the purpose of enabling them to
effectively deal with stressful situations.
A number of recommendations were given according to the findings of the study as
discussed below;
The government and other stakeholders should lay strategies in reducing employees’
stress in order to increase on the employee job satisfaction and job performance. This is
possible because the findings revealed that when employees~ stress is high. their job
performance and job satisfaction is low and vice versa in Uganda Prisons service. The
employees themselves should resort to better coping mechanisms for them to cope up
with stress in order to perform better in the organization and fulfill the objectives of the
organization. This was revealed according to the findings where stressful factors affect
employees’ perfoi~mance and job satisfaction in the organization.
Nongovernmental organizations should come in to sensitize the employers and
employees on the effects of stress on employees’ job satisfaction and job performance
and that makes the organization to go at a loss. Therefore, both employers and employees
should minimize on the stressful factors in order to perform their tasks well. Employers
should treat their employees well by increasing their salaries, work holidays, promotions
and other gifts to hard working employees in order to motivate them to become
committed in their jobs and perform well in line with the organization’s objectives.
Uganda Prisons Service management should also plan for periodic trainings to its
workers especially on stress management so that workers are empowered in advance to
learn how to effectively prevent and cope up with stress by themselves.
Uganda Prisons Service should search for all its internal factors that have the potential of
causing stress araong its workers so that such issues are addressed. This would help to
minimize the possibility of workers contracting stress hence improving on their
productivity. Uganda Prisons management should recognize that most workers
experience mental stress mostly caused by salary questions and heavy workloads which it
should generate solutions for. Workers should also maintain the habit of talking to their
close friends in stressful events since these friends are easy to access and conRde in,
however workers should utilize other available options in case friends fail to help such as
utilizing departmental counselors and social workers. This was revealed according to the
findings where stressful factors affect employees’ performance and job satisfaction in the
organization.
Description
A research report submitted to the College of Humanities
and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Award of Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Social Work and Social
Administration of Kampala
International, University.
Keywords
Stress, Job Performance, Prisons Service, Uganda