Effects of occupational stress among substance abuse rehabilitation centres based on their demographic characteristics in the selected counties in Kenya

Abstract

Occupational stress is a common phenomenon among drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation counsellors. Though occupational stress has received increased attention, apparently the current level of attention attributed to effects of occupational stress among drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation counsellors still remains a point of concern. This study therefore sought to establish the effects of occupational stress among rehabilitation counsellors working in drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation centres based on their demographic characteristics in selected counties in Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 112 (85%) drugs and substance abuse rehabilitation counsellors completed the occupational stress questionnaire and 13 administrators were interviewed in five counties. Descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation and percentages were used to analyse the data. A two way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the significance and determine whether to reject or accept the study hypotheses. All tests were based on the 0.05 level of significance. It was established that rehabilitation counsellors experienced effects of occupational stress in the form of physiological, psychological and behavioural strain. The findings revealed that there existed significant difference in the effects of occupational stress across gender, marital status and educational level of the rehabilitation counsellors who participated in this study. From the findings of the study, it was recommended that regular assessment of occupational stress for preventive measures be done among substance abuse rehabilitation counsellors.