Stress Management among Senior Staff Female Administrators in the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

The issue about work stress has been topical in recent times especially in university administration. The female university administrator is faced with a myriad of challenges in the daily discharge of their duties which end up stressing them. However, little attention has been given to this issue in research cycles in Ghana context. This study therefore focused on examining stress and its management among female administrator (senior staff) in the university of Cape Coast. As a case study, the researchers surveyed a total of 250 female senior staff administrators from academic faculties and other sections/units of the university using a simple random procedure. The results showed that attending meetings, compilation of materials for meetings, time pressures, undefined job schedules, striving to meet deadlines were among the sources of stress for female administrator (senior staff). Also, participants indicated that as a way of managing stress, they shared their problems with colleagues, made enough time to relax, ‘allowed some things to go’ and a majority also exercised. Finally, the study showed a significant relationship between coping strategy for stress and work experience of the administrator. Based on these findings, the study recommended that management of the university should routinely organize workshops on stress management for staff and also ensure that staffs are made to take their annual leave. These new ideas when imbibed would go a long way to improve the work of women administrators in the country.