Factors contributing to stress among public secondary school teachers in Vihiga district, Kenya

The study was carried out to identify the factors contributing to stress in teachers in public secondary schools in Vihiga district. The objectives of the study were: to identify the causes and effects of stress in teachers in public secondary schools in Vihiga District. The theoretical framework used in the study was adopted from the one propounded by Jerrold. The research design for the study was descriptive survey. The sample size for the study was 16 teachers. The researcher used interview schedules and questionnaires as the data collection instruments. The method of sampling that the researcher employed was stratified random sampling in order to give all divisions in Vihiga District an equal chance of selection. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used. The findings of the study were that stress was caused by; heavy workload, lack of clarity of duties and responsibilities, poor management, substandard equipments and insufficient salaries. The effects of stress were: Poor relations with the students and administration, lack of unity, absenteeism, loss of motivation and teacher transfer. The recommendations of the study were: school administrators should be encouraged to embrace consultative leadership; and there is need to induct school administrators on counselling.