Conscientiousness and Paranoid Ideation as Predictors of Workplace Hostility Among University Non-Academic Staff

Abstract

Industralization in Africa is believed to be marred by certain workplace behaviours that are anti productive with a tendency of jeopardizing the economy of a nation and its sustenance, especially in Nigeria. This study examines conscientiousness and paranoid ideation as predictors of workplace hostility among university non-academic staff. 210 non-academic staff, comprising 98 (47%) males and 112 (53%) females who were randomly selected through the simple random sampling technique from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, were used as participants for the study. The ages of the participants ranged between 25 and 61, with the mean age of 35 and standard deviation of 9.56. The Symptom Distress Checklist (SCL-90) by L.R. Derogatis, R.S Lipman & L. Covi (1977) and Big Five Inventory (BFI) by O.P. John, & R.L. Kentle (1991) were used for data collection. A correlational design was adopted and multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the data collected. Two hypotheses were tested in the study. The first hypothesis, which stated that conscientiousness will significantly predict workplace hostility among university non-academic staff, was not significant at p>.05 and so, was not accepted. The second hypothesis which stated that paranoid ideation will significantly predict workplace hostility among university non-academic staff was significant at p<.05 and so, confirmed. Based on the findings, it is recommended that workplace interventions, in the form of ombudsmen or industrial psychologists, be engaged in organizations to mediate workplace behaviours that are inimical to organizational well-being, productivity and effectiveness for better industrialization in Africa