OCCUPATIONAL STRESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND IT’S CORRELATES AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE- NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1003-4769Keywords:
Occupational stress, mental health, healthcare workers, job satisfaction, hospital-based studyAbstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) face increasing occupational stress and poor mental health outcomes due to high workloads, long shifts, and resource constraints. This study assessed occupational stress, mental health, and their correlates among HCWs in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Nigeria. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 HCWs (53 doctors, 48 nurses, 4 pharmacists, and 5 laboratory scientists). Participants were selected using proportional sampling. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire incorporating the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Respondents had a mean age of 34.5 years; 60% were female. Mental stress was prevalent, with 50.9% reporting sleep loss due to worry and 42.7% experiencing nervousness. Overall, 57.3% of HCWs reported work-related stress. Age (χ² = 12.34, df = 3, p = 0.015) and gender (χ² = 4.22, df = 1, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with mental stress. A positive correlation was observed between occupational stress and mental health problems (r = 0.56, p = 0.001), while job satisfaction negatively correlated with stress (r = -0.40, p = 0.021). This occupational stress is significantly associated with poor mental health among HCWs in ABUTH. Workload and low job satisfaction are key drivers. Interventions to reduce workload, improve job satisfaction, and provide mental health support are essential to safeguarding HCWs’ wellbeing.
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