Olalekan Tesilim ABINA

This study investigated workload and lifestyle as correlates of stress among university lecturers in Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the relationships between lecturers 'workload, lifestyle, and stress levels, and to determine whether academic rank and university type moderate these relationships. 9 research question were stated and answered, and 6 hypothesis were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. A survey research design was adopted, involving a population of 3,092 lecturers across federal, state, and private universities. A sample of 357 lecturers was selected through a multi stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire divided into four sections: Section A (demographic data), Section B (ASUU Workload Form), Section C (Lifestyle Questionnaire), and Section D (adopted Stress Scale from the DASS). The instrument was validated by the research supervisors and three experts from the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Education. Reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha which yielded the following reliability coefficients: 0.81 for the ASUU Workload Form, 0.71 for the Lifestyle Questionnaire, and 0.78 for the adopted Stress Scale (from the DASS). Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) were used to answer nine research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test hypotheses 1 and 2, and Fisher’s Z transformation was used for hypotheses 3 to 6. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between workload and stress, and a significant negative relationship between lifestyle and stress. Further analysis showed that academic rank significantly moderated the relationship between workload and stress, but not between lifestyle and stress. University type did not significantly moderate the relationship between either workload and stress or lifestyle and stress. The study concludes that both workload and lifestyle are critical predictors of stress among university lecturers, with academic rank influencing the effect of workload. It recommends institutional strategies to manage workload and promote healthier lifestyles to reduce occupational stress.