Levels of Stress among Retired Civil Servants as Correlate of Their Adjustment Patterns in Anambra State, Nigeria

Aims: The study determined the relationship between levels of stress and adjustment patterns of retired civil servants, the relationship between levels of stress and adjustment patterns of male retired civil servants, as well as the relationship between levels of stress and adjustment patterns of female retired civil servants in Anambra state, Nigeria.

Study Design: The research design was a correlation survey.

Place and Duration of Study: Anambra state secretariat office, March 2010 to February 2020.

Methodology: The multistage sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of 513 retired civil servants from a population of 1500 retired civil servants in Anambra state (220 male and 252 female) (Source: Anambra state secretariat office, personal/accounts department, 2019). Levels of stress (LOS) and adjustment patterns questionnaires (APQ) were used to collect data which was administered through direct delivery approach. The validity of the questionnaires was carried out by three experts. The reliability coefficient for the levels of stress questionnaire (LSQ) was 0.78, while the reliability coefficient for adjustment pattern questionnaire was 0.85. Research questions 1, 2 and 3 were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). The null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test of correlation.

Results: Findings from the study revealed among others that; the relationship between levels of stress and adjustment patterns of retired civil servants is high and positive (r=0.661/n=472), while the relationship between levels of stress and adjustment patterns based on gender of retired civil servants is positively high for male (r=0.703/n=220), and moderately positive for female retired civil servants (r=0.577/n=252). Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that male and female retired civil servants should be encouraged to engage in meaningful activities that will reduce their stress levels. Also, the federal government should look into disbursement of funds and the payment of retired civil servants, the prioritizing of retirees’ payment of pension and gratuities can promote this process. Through this, retired civil servants will meet up financial obligations of their families, and in turn reduce the level of stress they undergo.

Conclusion: There is a high positive correlation between levels of stress and their adjustment patterns, it was also found that a high positive correlation between levels of stress and adjustment patterns of male and female retired civil servants in Anambra state. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was found between levels of stress and adjustment patterns of retired civil servants.