THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOUR ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN WORK-RELATED STRESS AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCHERS

Employees who demonstrate Innovative Behaviour in the workplace are often more adaptable and this helps mitigate the impact of Work-Related Stress and enhances Job Performance. The study assessed the mediating effect of Innovative Behaviour on Work-Related Stress and job performance of agriculture researchers in Southwest, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used to select Two Hundred and Sixty-One (261) agriculture researchers for the study. Results indicate that 52.2% of the researchers were male, and 59.4% were married, with an average age of 43 years and 10 years of experience. Increased workload (Weighted Mean Score = 264.3) and poor working conditions (WMS = 248.1) were the predominant Work-Related Stress in the study area. The hierarchical regression analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) relationship between Work-Related Stress and job performance (b = 5.38, p<0.01). Also, In-B was significant (b = 0.16, p<0.05) to job performance. The study concluded that despite the prevalence and the influence of Work-Related Stress on job performance, Innovative Behaviour which serves as a mediating variable helped mitigate the impact of Work-Related Stress as employees approach their task in different ways, reducing the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed. The study recommended continuous learning and skill development to enhance researchers’ capabilities to cope with job demands and adapt to changes in the organization.