Abstract:
This study investigated stress management practices among primary school teachers. The area of the study was Education Zone C of Benue state, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The sample of the study was 240 public primary school teachers drawn through multi-stage sampling procedure, from a population of 7,324. One instrument; Teachers Stress Management Practices Questionnaire (TSMPQ) in five clusters were used for data collection. Frequency and percentages was used to answer research question one (1) while mean and standard deviation was used for research questions 2-4. T-test was used to test hypotheses. Major findings of the study revealed that, sources of stress for teachers are positive. Stress management practices adopted by teachers are positive. There is agreement between male and female teachers stress management practices adopted by teachers. There is agreement between Urban and rural teachers on stress management practice scores of male and female teachers. Therefore, gender is not a significant predictor of stress management. There was no significant difference in the mean stress management practice scores of urban and rural teachers. Therefore, location is not a significant predictor of stress management. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should give teachers high priority by improving on teachers welfare and as well make teaching/learning environment more conducive, hence teachers play vital role in the nation’s educational development and teachers also determine the future of the young ones in the society. State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) should organize workshops for teachers on stress management strategies in order to build confidence in them on their job. The board should also post qualified teachers to the deserving schools and build enough conducive structures for teaching/learning activities. Curriculum planners to give special attention to inclusion of stress management strategies in curriculum planning, which the teacher trainers will teach the trainees and prepare them for the tasks ahead. Teachers should as much as possible engage in studying fervently and make proper use of management strategies that will encourage them to face their tasks of teaching and their own health. Researchers to extend their researches to other levels of teaching field like secondary and tertiary institutions in order to encourage teachers in their job.
