Relationship between Locus of Control and Level of Occupational Stress among Mental Health Workers in Public Mental Health Facilities in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Mental health workers work in an environment that involves dealing with patients with emotional and mental problems. Considering that Locus of control as a personality variable may determine how individuals handle stressful situations, there was need to understand how it correlates with occupational stress among health workers in Kenya. In addition, there were few studies on occupational stress and locus of control in Kenya. This study sought to establish the relationship between locus of control and occupational stress among mental health workers in public mental health facilities in Nairobi County Kenya. The objectives of the study were: To identify the locus of control orientation among mental health workers; To determine the levels of occupational stress among mental health workers; To find out the relationship between Locus of control and levels of occupational stress among mental health workers; To find out strategies that can be used to help mental health workers cope better with occupational stress. The study was guided by the attribution theory by Heider (1958). The study used correlational research design. The target population was 100 mental health workers in public mental health facilities in Nairobi County. The study sampled 56 mental health workers working in a major mental hospital in Nairobi using multi-stage sampling method. The Work Locus of Control Scale and Weiman Occupational Stress Scale (WOSS) were adapted to measure locus of control and occupational stress respectively. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) aided in analyzing the collected data using descriptive statistics namely, frequencies, percentages and measures of central tendency. In addition, inferential statistics namely, Chi square, was used to establish the relationship between locus of control and occupational stress. The findings revealed that a majority (57%) of the respondents had internal locus of control while 50% had moderate stress. The study also found that there was no significant relationship between locus of control and occupational stress. The results of the study also revealed that taking time off and staff motivation were strategies that were used to cope with occupational stress. The findings of the study may provide empirical evidence on the need for enhancing internal locus of control and mitigating occupational stress among mental health workers in Kenya.