Stress and demographic factors affecting job satisfaction among academics in one South African University

Abstract

Academic staff members providing learning and teaching services are at risk of experiencing stress that may influence job satisfaction. Furthermore, external factors such as demographics may increase the level of stress as well as job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the role of stress and demographic variables in determining job satisfaction among academic staff of the North West University (NWU) of the Mafikeng Campus. The primary focus for this study was to examine whether there was a negative correlation between stress and job satisfaction among academics and whether age, years of service, level of education and salary were positive predicting factors of job satisfaction among academics. For this study, a sample of 60 academics from the Mafikeng campus was randomly selected using the simple-random sampling technique. A questionnaire method was implemented to obtain the data for this study. In generating relevant data, the researcher employed the quantitative research method using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Spearman’s rho test (SPSS). Statistical analyses were performed with the data collected in the Likert-type scale for level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction with each of four factors of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction as compared with each demographic variable. Statistically significant correlations were tested to determine whether significant different groups existed between the various groups. Additionally, this study examined if there is a statistical significant difference between job satisfaction and stress levels among academics. The findings for this study indicate that several correlations exist between stress, age, salary, length of service and level of education. To increase validity for future studies, there is need for a university wide sample size that includes all academics from the three campuses which will benefit overall research findings. The recommendations of the study are that there is need for target-specific research to be undertaken that focuses on interventions that can be implemented to reduce stress amongst academics. The current literature does not include best practices of how stress amongst academics can be addressed adequately.