AN INVESTIGATION INTO WORK STRESS MANAGEMENT IN THE NAMIBIAN POLICE FORCE IN THE KHOMAS REGION A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MANAGEMENT STRATEGY) OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA BY RUTH NTWALA LUBINDA 200926322 SEPTEMBER 2019 SUPERVISOR: DR ALBERT ISAACS (UNAM) Contents ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. v DECLARATION........................................................................................................................................ vi DEDICATION........................................................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ....................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Setting the context of the study ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Background to Namibia and the Khomas region ........................................................................... 4 1.3 Statement of the problem ................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Objectives of the study ...................................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Hypotheses Testing ........................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Significance of the study ................................................................................................................. 10 1.7 Limitations of the study .................................................................................................................. 10 1.8 key terms of the study ..................................................................................................................... 12 1.9 The organisation of chapters .......................................................................................................... 13 1.10 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 15 2.0. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 15 2.1 The Namibian Police Force ............................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Theorising stress .............................................................................................................................. 21 2.3 Sources of work stress in Police work ........................................................................................... 26 2.4 Aspects outside of the work environment ..................................................................................... 32 2. 5 Impact of work stress ..................................................................................................................... 32 2.6 Recognising Signs and Symptoms ................................................................................................. 34 2.7 Managing work-related stress........................................................................................................ 36 2.8 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS ............................................................................................ 41 3.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 41 3.1 Research design ............................................................................................................................... 41 3.2 Population ........................................................................................................................................ 44 3.3 Sample and Sampling method ....................................................................................................... 45 3.4 Research Instruments ..................................................................................................................... 46 3.5 Data collection ................................................................................................................................. 47 i 3.6 Data analysis .................................................................................................................................... 49 3.7 Research Ethics ............................................................................................................................... 51 3.8 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSIONS .................................................................................. 53 4.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 53 4.1 Khomas Region: Location of studies ............................................................................................. 54 4.2 Response Rate .................................................................................................................................. 55 Figure 4.1: Questionnaire Response Rate ............................................................................................... 55 Figure 4.2: Interview Response Rate ....................................................................................................... 56 4.3 Personal information of participants ............................................................................................ 57 4.4 Data collection ................................................................................................................................. 62 4.5 Analyses of data ............................................................................................................................... 63 4.7 Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 86 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................... 88 5.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 88 5.1 Conclusion: The Results and Objectives ....................................................................................... 88 5.2 Recommendations for action.......................................................................................................... 93 5.3 Recommendations for further studies ........................................................................................... 98 5.4 Final Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 99 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 101 ii TABLES AND FIGURES List of Tables Table 1: Profile Distribution of respondents used in the study……………………………………55 Table 2. Results from correlation coefficient of modules of work stress and job performance…70 Table 3. Strategies for managing work…………………………………………………………..73 List of Figures Figure 1: Geographical map of Namibia…………………………………………………………15 Figure 2: Model of work-related stress…………………………………………………………...26 Figure 4.1: Questionnaire Response Rate………………………………………………………...52 Figure 4.2: Interview Response Rate……………………………………………………………..53 Figure 4.3 Gender representation of the Respondents……………………………………………54 Figure 4.4, Respondents’ level of education……………………………………………………..58 .Figure 4.5: The race groups of the respondents………………………………………………….59 Figure 4.6: The symptoms of work stress in the Namibian Police Force…………………………65 Figure 4.7 Sources/causes of work stress among police officers…………………………………67 Figure 4.8 Impact/ effects of work stress on the Namibian police force employees………………68 iii APPENDICES Permission request letter to conduct study from NBS ………………………………...Appendix 1 Researcher’s Authorization thought letter to the Police Force…………………………Appendix 2 Research Permission letter from the Police Force…………………………………..... Appendix 3 Research letter to the Respondents……………………………………………………. Appendix 4 Research Questionnaire………………………………………………………………..Appendix 5 Namibian Police Stress Management Presentation Document……..………………… Appendix 6 Language editing letter………………………………………………………………… Appendix 7 iv ABSTRACT Introduction: Numerous incidents related to work stress have been reported in the media. Aggressiveness