STRESS COUNSELLING AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN BOMET COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The study examined the influence of stress counselling on employee performance in the Ministry of interior and national administration in Bomet County, Kenya, focusing on accessibility, quality and stress-management support through counselling.
Problem Statement: Employees in public-sector institutions may experience work-related stress arising from demanding responsibilities and organisational pressures. Although counselling provides an important mechanism for managing stress, limited empirical evidence exists on whether accessibility, quality and stress-management support through counselling influence employee performance in Kenya's public sector.
Method/Methodology: The study adopted a positivist philosophy and explanatory research design. The target population comprised 210 employees, from which 138 respondents were selected. Primary quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.
Results: The illustrative findings indicated that accessibility of stress counselling, quality of counselling and stress-management support had positive and statistically significant relationships with employee performance. Stress-management support had the strongest effect.
Conclusion and Policy Recommendation: The study concludes that effective stress counselling can contribute to improved employee performance. The Ministry should strengthen access to counselling, enhance the quality of professional counselling services and provide continuous stress-management support.
Keywords: Stress Counselling, Counselling Accessibility, Counselling Quality, Stress Management, Employee Performance
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