LEADERSHIP STYLE AND OPERATIONAL FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF JOB STRESSAMONG NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE PERSONNEL

Abstract

This study investigates the role of operational stressors, perceived citizen hostility, work environment, work-shift,
present job assignment as determinants of job stress among police personnel. The study was anchored on
Transactional process model and Job Demand-Control theories. The study adopted the cross-sectional survey
design. The study was conducted in Zones two (2) and eleven (11) of the Nigeria Police Force. Zone two
comprises of Lagos and Ogun state commands while zone eleven comprises of Ondo, Osun and Oyo state
commands due to their proximity. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for this study. More than Twothird (63.3%) were males while 36.7% were females. About half (54.0%) were 31-40 years of age, with
secondary (33.3%) Diploma (31.9%) First degree (25.2%) and post graduate (6.8%) education. Their current
position include; administrative duties (29.7%) Investigation (28.2%), Intelligence anti-robbery squad (9.1%)
guard duty (6.6%) patrol (7.0%) prosecution (2.6%) and marine policing (3.3%) among others. The police
officers and men responded to questionnaire and two hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, Pearson
Production moment correlation (PPMC) and Multiple regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Result
demonstrated that work environment (β =.22,p<.05), perceived citizen hostility(r =.15,p<.05), transformational
leadership style(r =.21,p<.05), transactional leadership style(r =.32,p<.05), laissez faire leadership style (r
=.38,p<.05), and present job assignment, work experience (r =.28,p<.05) were significantly correlate job stress
among police personnel. Shift work (β = .39, t =5.07, p<.05), perceived citizen hostility (β=.129; p<.05),
working environment, present job assignment to experience (β=-.263; p<.05), transformational leadership style
(β=-.182; p<.05), transactional leadership style (β=.273; p<.05), laissez faire leadership style (β=.269; p<.05)
predicted job stress among police personnel. [F(7,1838) = 15.91, R2 = .319; p < .05]. It was concluded that
demographic, operational and organizational factors play a combined major role Police officers and men stress
level. Thus, person- organizational-selection fit, improved job motivation, modern equipment and conducive wok
environment were suggested as concentric strategies towards reducing job stress among the personnel of the
Nigeria Police Force