Gender Differences in Perceived Stress Among Childhood Education Lecturers

This study examined the differences in stress perception in a sample of childhood education lecturers in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions by gender. Forty (40) childhood education lecturers across public colleges of education and universities were conveniently sampled for this descriptive survey study. A questionnaire measuring stress perception was used for collecting the research data. Mean, standard deviation and unpaired t-test were used for data collection. Results show that the stress score of the female lecturers was significantly higher than that of the male lecturers in childhood education. Therefore, there is a need for stress management programme among these female lecturers.


Introduction
Gender as a concept means the roles and the responsibilities in which men and women are created in our families, our societies and our cultures (March, & Smyth, 2003). One can, therefore, insinuate that according to Baseline concept of gender is a man-made thing. Again, the concept of gender involves equally the expectations held about the personality, ability and likely behaviours of both women and men (femininity and masculinity) (March, & Smyth, 2003). Gender roles and the outcome are learned behaviour, which can change over time and therefore varies between cultures. Interrogating further, structures of social differences in the society such as; political status, class, ethnicity, physical and mental disability, age and more, are all tools for gender modification (March, & Smyth, 2003). In line with this, gender roles should be built on equality; the meaningful partnership of male and female and their various roles in the society. The accomplishment of gender equality in and through education remains a vital approach towards the realization of the vision 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UNESCO, 2018).
Stress and stress perception is a measure of the degree to which circumstances in a life of an individual are determined as stressful (Chan & La Greca, 2013;Cohen et al., 1983;Siqueira Reis, Ferreira Hino, &Romélio Rodriguez Añez, 2010). The stress perception is usually measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which records have proven to be the most extensively used tool in the psychological measurement of the perception of stress (Chan & La Greca, 2013). It is equally reported that stress level by gender is an important area of research (Eskay, Arumede, Eneh, &Aja, 2019).
Gender and stress research has increasingly focused on the differences of sex in neuroendocrine, autonomic, or behavioural reaction to stress (Handa & Chung, 2007). In gender and stress research, many studies make use of animal models to show hormonal and behavioural stress reactions, their aim is to control the kind of stress administered and at the same time checking out the prior stress experience (Handa& Chung, 2007). Ultimately, a better understanding of the stress level among humans is essential in the advancement of efficient management for stress-related illness. The main purpose of this study was to examine the differences in stress perception in a sample of childhood education lecturers in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions by gender.

Method
The approval to conduct this study was granted by the Faculty of Education Research Ethics Committee, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Forty (40) childhood education lecturers across public colleges of education and universities in South-east Nigeria were conveniently sampled for this descriptive survey study. A 10-item questionnaire measuring stress perception by Cohen et al. (1983) was used for collecting the research data. The questionnaire is responded to using the following scale: 0 = Never, 1 = Almost Never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Fairly Often, and 4 = Very Often. Cronbach alpha reliability was 0.86. Informed consent was obtained orally. A research assistant helped in gathering the data from the lecturers. Mean, standard deviation and unpaired t-test were used for data collection. Our result was interpreted as being significant at P≤.05. Specifically, Table 2 shows that the mean stress score of the female lecturers was significantly higher (

Discussion
This study investigated the differences in stress perception in a sample of childhood education lecturers in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions by gender. It was found that the stress score of the female lecturers was significantly higher  Vol. 12, No.5;2020 than that of the male lecturers in childhood education. There are past studies about gender differences in the perception of levels of stress among male and female workers. A study indicates that male and female workers have conflicting attitudes about the amount and nature of gender discrimination within their work (Dowler & Arai, 2008). Further, findings added that females experience higher levels of stress (Dowler & Arai, 2008). Also, a weak relationship was equally reported in the perception of gender-related stress level for female. On the other hand, males who reported on female high level of stress got a lower level of stress experience (Dowler & Arai, 2008).
It is also noted that there is a high rate of perceived stress among females as compared to their male counterparts (Eskay et al., 2019). Nnabuihe et al. (2012) in Eskay et al. equally showed some level of perceived stress in females compared to their male counterparts. Nnabuihe et al. posit that stress is likely to be profound among females than their male counterparts. The study between gender and reactions to stress shows a significant difference between males and females concerning their reactions to stress (Calvarese, 2015). More females experience higher levels of depression, frustration, and anxiety than their male counterparts when reacting to stress (Calvarese, 2015). Also, more females expressed anger than males as a reaction to stress (Calvarese, 2015). Therefore, there is a need for stress management programme among these female lecturers.

Conclusion
Stress score of the female lecturers was significantly higher than that of the male lecturers in childhood education. Therefore, there is a need for stress management programme among these female lecturers.