Work Stress and Job Burnout Among Lecturers in State Owned Universities in Rivers State: The Mediating Role Of Self Efficacy

This study investigates the relationship between work stress, job burnout, and self-efficacy among lecturers in state-owned universities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 256 lecturers using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Occupational Stress Inventory, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. The study found a significant positive correlation between work stress and job burnout among lecturers in state-owned universities in Rivers State, Nigeria. However, self-efficacy was found to mediate the relationship between work stress and job burnout, with higher levels of self-efficacy predicting lower levels of job burnout. These findings suggest that self-efficacy can act as a buffer against the negative effects of work stress and job burnout on lecturers in state-owned universities in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study provides insights into the unique experiences of lecturers in the Nigerian higher education sector and highlights the need for universities, lecturers, policy-makers, and government agencies to work together to address the issue of work stress and job burnout in this sector.