The Jailer or the Jailed: Stress and Prison Workers in Nigeria

This study examined the sources of stress among prison workers in Nigeria. A total of 150 (110 male and 40 females) Prison staff drawn from the Oko and Benin Prisons in Edo state, Nigeria participated in the study. A questionnaire was used in collecting data that were analyzed in this study. The questionnaire was constructed by current researchers and was made up of four sections. Results revealed that riots in prisons (96%) were the highest source of stress to prison staff and the least source of stress was dilapidating building (50%). Results also revealed that gender and length of service have significant main effect on stress experienced by prison workers, while age has no significant main effect. The combinations of gender, age and length of service had a significant interaction effect on stress as experienced by prison workers. The results of the research prompted the recommendation that the Federal Government of Nigeria should have a good political will to provide solutions to problems facing the service and make the job less stressful.