The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background The interrelationship of stress and sleep disorders has long been established with physical activity (PA) proven effective in their management. Academic staff in medical schools may face heightened stress levels when compared with staff in other disciplines as a result of the rig...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Uzoamaka Nwakaego Akobundu, Sochima Johnmark Obiekwe, Jennifer Ezeigwe, Amaechi Ifeoma Adaigwe, Uchenna Prosper Okonkwo, Ada Jovita Daniel, Christopher Olusanjo Akosile
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Lifestyle Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70027
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850073808578281472
author Uzoamaka Nwakaego Akobundu
Sochima Johnmark Obiekwe
Jennifer Ezeigwe
Amaechi Ifeoma Adaigwe
Uchenna Prosper Okonkwo
Ada Jovita Daniel
Christopher Olusanjo Akosile
author_facet Uzoamaka Nwakaego Akobundu
Sochima Johnmark Obiekwe
Jennifer Ezeigwe
Amaechi Ifeoma Adaigwe
Uchenna Prosper Okonkwo
Ada Jovita Daniel
Christopher Olusanjo Akosile
author_sort Uzoamaka Nwakaego Akobundu
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background The interrelationship of stress and sleep disorders has long been established with physical activity (PA) proven effective in their management. Academic staff in medical schools may face heightened stress levels when compared with staff in other disciplines as a result of the rigorous academic environment in medical schools, in addition to other possible work stressors. This study aimed to investigate the levels of stress, sleep disorders, and PA among academic staff at the medical school of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, and to determine the relationship between these variables. Methods This cross‐sectional study consecutively recruited 92 adult lecturers at the study site. Data were collected using the Short Form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ‐SF), Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI), and the Health and Safety Work‐Related Stress Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between variables at a significance level of 0.05. Results The mean age of the participants was 40.00 ± 7.34 years. The mean score for work‐related stress, sleep quality, and PA was 66.09 ± 6.58, 7.84 ± 3.48 (poor quality), and 1219.34 ± 827.83 (moderate PA), respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between work‐related stress and PA levels (ρ = 0.22, p = 0.03). Also, there was no significant correlation between sleep quality and work‐related stress (ρ = −0.16, p = 0.11) and between work‐related stress and sleep quality (ρ = 0.19, p = 0.06). Conclusion In conclusion, high concerns of work stress, poor sleep quality, and moderate PA were observed among the study participants. Targeted interventions to promote PA, improve sleep hygiene practices, and alleviate work‐related stress among academic staff are recommended.
format Article
id doaj-art-84333bfb7e2c4d39afed9507ef5b3d46
institution DOAJ
issn 2688-3740
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Lifestyle Medicine
spelling doaj-art-84333bfb7e2c4d39afed9507ef5b3d462025-08-20T02:46:44ZengWileyLifestyle Medicine2688-37402025-07-0163n/an/a10.1002/lim2.70027The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional StudyUzoamaka Nwakaego Akobundu0Sochima Johnmark Obiekwe1Jennifer Ezeigwe2Amaechi Ifeoma Adaigwe3Uchenna Prosper Okonkwo4Ada Jovita Daniel5Christopher Olusanjo Akosile6Department of Medical Rehabilitation Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra NigeriaDepartment of Orthotics and Prosthetics Federal University of Technology Owerri Imo NigeriaDepartment of Medical Rehabilitation Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra NigeriaABSTRACT Background The interrelationship of stress and sleep disorders has long been established with physical activity (PA) proven effective in their management. Academic staff in medical schools may face heightened stress levels when compared with staff in other disciplines as a result of the rigorous academic environment in medical schools, in addition to other possible work stressors. This study aimed to investigate the levels of stress, sleep disorders, and PA among academic staff at the medical school of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, and to determine the relationship between these variables. Methods This cross‐sectional study consecutively recruited 92 adult lecturers at the study site. Data were collected using the Short Form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ‐SF), Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI), and the Health and Safety Work‐Related Stress Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between variables at a significance level of 0.05. Results The mean age of the participants was 40.00 ± 7.34 years. The mean score for work‐related stress, sleep quality, and PA was 66.09 ± 6.58, 7.84 ± 3.48 (poor quality), and 1219.34 ± 827.83 (moderate PA), respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between work‐related stress and PA levels (ρ = 0.22, p = 0.03). Also, there was no significant correlation between sleep quality and work‐related stress (ρ = −0.16, p = 0.11) and between work‐related stress and sleep quality (ρ = 0.19, p = 0.06). Conclusion In conclusion, high concerns of work stress, poor sleep quality, and moderate PA were observed among the study participants. Targeted interventions to promote PA, improve sleep hygiene practices, and alleviate work‐related stress among academic staff are recommended.https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70027academic stafflecturersmedical schoolphysical activitysleep qualitytertiary institution
spellingShingle Uzoamaka Nwakaego Akobundu
Sochima Johnmark Obiekwe
Jennifer Ezeigwe
Amaechi Ifeoma Adaigwe
Uchenna Prosper Okonkwo
Ada Jovita Daniel
Christopher Olusanjo Akosile
The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Lifestyle Medicine
academic staff
lecturers
medical school
physical activity
sleep quality
tertiary institution
title The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_fullStr The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_short The Correlation of Work‐Related Stress, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity Among Academic Staff in a Nigerian Medical School: A Cross‐Sectional Study
title_sort correlation of work related stress sleep quality and physical activity among academic staff in a nigerian medical school a cross sectional study
topic academic staff
lecturers
medical school
physical activity
sleep quality
tertiary institution
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70027
work_keys_str_mv AT uzoamakanwakaegoakobundu thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT sochimajohnmarkobiekwe thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT jenniferezeigwe thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT amaechiifeomaadaigwe thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT uchennaprosperokonkwo thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT adajovitadaniel thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT christopherolusanjoakosile thecorrelationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT uzoamakanwakaegoakobundu correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT sochimajohnmarkobiekwe correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT jenniferezeigwe correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT amaechiifeomaadaigwe correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT uchennaprosperokonkwo correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT adajovitadaniel correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy
AT christopherolusanjoakosile correlationofworkrelatedstresssleepqualityandphysicalactivityamongacademicstaffinanigerianmedicalschoolacrosssectionalstudy