EFFECTS OF STRESS ON JOB PERFORMANCE IN UGANDA PRISONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHARPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction i

1.l Background to the study I

1.2 Statement of the problem 6

1.3 General objective 11

1.4 Specific objectives ofthe study 11

1.5 Research questions 11

1.6 Significance ofthe study 12

1.7 Scope of the study 12

1.8 Conceptual frame work 13

CHARPTER TWO 14

LITERATURE REVIEW 14

2.0 Introduction 14

2.1 Related studies 14

2.2 Understanding stress in different contexts 17

2.3.Causes of stress elsewhere in the world 18

2.3.1 Financial problems 19

2.3.2 Workplace stress 19

2.3.3 Personal relationships 19

2.3.4 Health 20

2.3.5 Irritantw 20

2.4 Impacts of stress on workers 20

2.5 Stress coping mechanisms 22

2.6 Emerging gaps 26

CHAPTER THREE 27

METHODOLOGY .27

3.0 Introduction 27

3.1 Research design 27

3.2 Area of study 27

3.3 Study population 27

3.4 Sample size 27

3.5 Sample selection 28

3.6 Data collection approaches 28

3.6.1 .Quntitative approach 28

3.6.2. Qualitative approach 28

3.7 Data Analysis 29

3.8 Ethical Consideration 29

3.9 Research constraints/ limitations 29

CHAPTER FOUR 31

PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION OF

FINDINGS 31

4.0 Introduction 31

4.1 Discussion of findings 31

4.1.1 Nature of Stressful Situations Experienced by Workers of U PS- Kampala Extra Region 31

4.1.2 Causes of Stress among Workers of Uganda Prisons Service 32

4.1.3 How Workers of Uganda Prisons Service- Kampala Extra Region Cope with Stressful Situations 33

4.2 Background characteristics of the respondents 33

4,3 Ways in which job satisfaction affect job performance in Uganda Prisons Service... 39

4.4. Nature of Stressful Situations Experienced by Workers of Uganda Prisons ServiceKampala Extra Region 41

4.5 Causes of Stress among Workers of Uganda Prisons Service-Kampala Extra Region. 43

4.6 1-low Workers of Uganda Prisons Service Cope with Stressful Situations 45

CHAPTER FIVE 49

SUMMARY OF PTNDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 49

5.0 introduction 49

5.1 Summary of findings 49

5.2 Conclusion 50

5.3 Recommendations 50

5.4 Areas for further research 51

REFERENCES 52

APPENDICES 54

APPENDIX I 54

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR JUNiOR OFFICERS OF UGANDA PRiSONS SERVICE- A

CASE STUDY OF KAMPALA EXTRA REGION 54

APPENDIX 2 60

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR SENIOR OFFICERS/ADMINISTRATORS OF UGANDA

PRISONS SERVICE- KAMPALA EXTRA REGION 60

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 followed 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 stress 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 ix 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’ performance 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 among 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.