Occupational Stress of Caregivers in Early Childhood Centres, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study attempted to examine the types and extent of occupational stress of caregivers in early childhood centres. Study Design: Descriptive survey design. Place and Duration of Study: Oyo State, Nigeria, between January 2010 and March, 2011. Methodology: To accomplish this aim, questionnaires (Caregivers Stress Index CSI) were administered on 500 early childhood caregivers from 11 local government areas through a multistage sampling technique. Out of which 426 questionnaires were returned useful and valid for the study. Results: Using mean rating points, the survey orderly ranked workload-related, administration-related, professional career-related and children-related stress as the types of job-related stress experienced. It also established that colleagues-related stress, workload-related stress, and pupil- related stress are usually experienced by early childhood caregivers. Conclusion: Demands of early childhood education centers and pressure have contributed to increasing caregivers’ crises. Job-related activities in early childhood include potential difficulties which have impacted on caregivers’ performance. The study, hence, recommends that greater attention and policy towards improving the quality of early childhood education in Nigeria.