STRESS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF CAREER WOMEN IN LAGOS STATE NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the study

For researchers in various disciplines, the term "stress" has different meanings. According to a study conducted by various researchers, stress is linked to the ecosystem and population of organisms. Temperature, cold, and a lack of food supply are all considered stressors by biologists. As stressors, social scientists are more concerned with people's interactions with their circumstances and the resulting emotional disturbances. Anything that disrupts an individual's routine, physical or mental well-being is referred to as stress. It happens when a person's body performs beyond its capabilities or when he or she is subjected to unusual demands. A bad temper is a simple manifestation of stress, whereas a severe display is an act of violence. Stress is a factor that contributes to the development of stress. Stress can be positive or negative depending on how a person reacts to it. For instance, one person may see stress as a motivator, while another may see it as a constraint. Stress can be beneficial or harmful. Estruses are used to describe positive stress, while distress is used to describe negative stress. Distress has an impact on a person's physical and mental health. Estruses cause the body and mind to work together in a creative way. Distress is a type of negative stress that affects a person's mental well-being. Insomnia, eating disorders, heart problems, and suicidal tendencies are just a few of these issues. When a person is free of stress, he or she becomes sluggish and bored. Positive stress motivates people to do better. Stress, on the other hand, causes distress when it exceeds the required level. Individuals' perceptions of stress vary, and they each have their own stress tolerance: some people work better under pressure, while others can't stand the "last-minute syndrome." Workplace stress among women in the twenty-first century is nothing new or unheard of. Stress has existed since the dawn of time, but its toll is now greater than ever. When we look at doctor visits, we find that stress-related issues account for 75-90 percent of them. Claims for stress among career women are twice as high as claims for non-stress physical injury at work, costing an estimated $200 billion per year. Stress-related absenteeism was ten times more expensive in the UK than all other industrial disputes combined. Stress management among working women is a phenomenon not only in the West, but also in Asia. In a 1997 report, PERC, a Hong Kong-based consultancy, stated that stress levels in Asia are on the rise. India, like the rest of the world, is no exception. On a scale of one to ten, it is ranked only after Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, China, Singapore, and Japan, with a score of 6.1. In 1996, a New Delhi-based non-governmental organization reported that 4,100 people on the verge of suicide contacted its helpline. This figure necessitates some serious consideration. Executive stress, police stress, marital stress, unemployment stress, job stress, stress among the youth, and stress among adults are all examples of stress among Nigerian career women. We now know a lot more about stress than we ever did before. A single site had 25,68,931 documents on stress, according to an Internet search (www.alltheweb.com). We've all heard of career women experiencing workplace stress. Women's workplace trauma is a hot topic these days. The definition of a perfect woman is a woman who meets all of the following criteria. A perfect woman is one who is able to comprehend and empathize with a man's desires. A woman contributes to the professional and personal growth of a man who is typically a provider and pillar of strength. A successful man stands beside a successful woman. Individually, stress is defined as any interference that disrupts a person's health, i.e. their mental and physical well-being. It occurs when the body is asked to perform tasks that are beyond its normal capabilities. Individuals, families, society, and organizations all suffer as a result of stress.

1.2  Statement of research problem

Nigerian women are quickly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the workplace, and career women must not be overlooked. They make up a sizable portion of Nigeria's population, and their influence is undeniable. According to recent statistics (Akinpelu and Jekayinfa, 2000), women account for 20.3 percent of Nigerian professionals. What appears to be the cause of women's low participation in top managerial positions can't be divorced from the struggle to maintain a home and perform optimally in their jobs at the same time. Career women's homework interface stress is likely to be greater than that of their male counterparts. Women in the workforce face more work-related stress than their male counterparts. These stresses and stress-related outcomes have serious implications for women's performance, mental, psychological, and physical well-being.

1.3  Objectives of the study

The primary objective for this study is s follows:

l  To know the causes of stress among career women in Nigeria

l  To know how stress management practices affects career women performance in Nigeria.

l  To find out how to improve on stress management practices among career women in Nigeria in other for there to be high performance in their respective work place.

1.4  Research questions

1.        Do we have causes of stress management issue among career women in Nigeria?

2.        Does stress management practices affect the performance of career women in Nigeria?

3.        Do you think there can be improvement in the performance of career women in Nigerian work place?

1.5  Research hypothesis

H0: stress does not affect career women performance in Nigerian work place.

1.6  Significance of the study

The significance of this study cannot be underestimated as:

l  This study will examine stress management practices of career women in Lagos state Nigeria.

l  The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government organizations, career women, companies and academia.

1.7  Scope of the study

This study intends to examine stress management practices of career women in lagos state  Hence,career women from selected companies in Lagos state will be used as a case study.

1.8  Limitations of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher

1.9  Operational definition of terms

Stress: pressure or tension exerted on a material object.

Management: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people

Practices: the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it.

Career women:  a career woman is a woman who takes pride in her career, who chooses to work and often who is successful at her job