Construction and Validation of a Scale to Measure University Lecturers’ Stress in Teaching Profession in Southwest Nigeria

This study developed a scale for measuring University Lecturers’ stress in teaching profession in Southwest, Nigeria. The study specifically determined whether the stress rating scale (SRS) is reliable. It also examined whether the stress rating scale (SRS) is valid. It furthers determined whether the stress rating scale (SRS) discriminate between lecturers based on gender. The descriptive research design of the survey type was used in this study. The population for the study consisted of 18,967 university lecturers in Southwest. A sample of 300 University lecturers were selected through multistage sampling procedure. The research instrument used in collecting data for this study was a self-developed stress rating scale (SRS). The 30 items generated were administered to University lecturers on a four-point continuum. Their responses were subjected to factor analysis and item total correlation which helped to reduce the items to 18. A 18-items instrument named “Stress Rating Scale” was finally produced. This was administered on the selected sample for the study. Analyses of the data were presented under descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were analyzed by the use mean and standard deviation while the inferential testing were done using Cronbach’s coefficient of alpha reliability, Item Total Correlation Analysis, and students t-test. The findings of this study revealed that the scale had significant reliability coefficient, the scale is valid, and there was a significant difference between the rating of male and female University Lecturer on the Stress scale. It was concluded that the 18-items on stress rating scale developed in this study is reliable and valid and can therefore be used to adequately measure lecturers’ stress in teaching profession. Based on the findings of this study, it was therefore recommended that lecturers should take enough time to rest so as to ease off their stress and female lecturers should be given consideration when assigning activities that can lead to stress