Stress factors, anxiety and depression among Employees in Ministry of Public Service

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between stress factors, anxiety and depression among employees of ministry of public service. This was achieved through three (3) objectives which included finding out the relationship between stress factors and anxiety, finding out the relationship between anxiety and depression as well as finding out the relationship between stress factors and depression. The study employed a cross sectional survey which was correlational in nature on a population of employees both male and female and a sample size of 169 questionnaires were administered of which 119 questionnaires would qualify for data analysis and entry since 38 were not completed and 12 were not returned by respondents. Selection of respondents was done using convenient sampling technique and data entry and analysis was done using (SPSS) version 23. The data was presented using frequency-percentage tables for demographic data section and analyzed using Pearson’s product moment Correlation where the relationship was determined at r = 0.5. The findings indicated that there is a positive and significant relationship between stress factors and anxiety since (P=0.004<0.01, r =.0267**), then anxiety and depression were not significantly related to each other (P=0.069> 0.05, r=.169) and finally there was no significant relationship between stress factors and depression among the employees since (P=.737>0.05 and r=.-.031). The results meant that stress factors are likely to lead to anxiety however anxiety does not lead to depression and likewise stress factors do not lead to depression among employees of public service. The study therefore concluded that ministry of public service should establish stress management procedures in order to avoid anxiety. Suggestions in areas where further research should be conducted have also been pointed out in order to help other researchers as well the organization to put in place the necessary employee assistance programs that will be effective in reducing the levels of stress, anxiety and depression among employees working at ministry of public service.