Socio-Demographic Predictors of Emotional Health Problems among Civil Servants in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State

Abstract

The study investigated socio-demographic predictors of emotional health problems among the civil servants in Nsukka LGA of Enugu state. Five specific objectives with their corresponding research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design. A sample size of 282 was drawn from the population of 959 using Taro Yamane’s formula. A two stage sampling procedure were used to draw the sample.Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Clinical Anger Scale (CAS) were used for data collection. A total of 282 copies of the questionnaire were administered to the participants, 241 were returned, which gave a return rate of 85 per cent. The 241 copies returned were duly filled out and used for data analysis. Frequencies, percentages and Spearman Rho were used to answer the research questions and logistic regression models were used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The findings showed that moderate proportion of civil servants experienced depression, anxiety, stress and anger. The Civil servants in Nsukka LGA had mild depression, extremely severe anxiety, severe stress and severe anger.There was a weak positive relationship between educational status, income level, age and emotional health problems (depression, anxiety, stress)among civil servants and a weak positive relationship between income level, age and anger. From the findings only educational status and anger had a weak negative relationship among civil servants. Among the three socio-demographics, only age was found to be associated with an increased likelihood of depression, anxiety and stress thereby significantly predicting depression, anxiety and stress.Income level and educational status were not associated with an increased likelihood of emotional health problems (depression, anxiety, stress and anger) among civil servants in Nsukka LGA. Based on the above findings the author recommended among others that the health educators, governmental and non-governmental bodies, social medias, curriculum planners, administrators among others should organize workshop, in-service training and seminars to help the civil servants in Nsukka LGA to have abetter understanding of emotional health problems and their predictors. .