HUMAN AND FINANCIAL COSTS OF ACADEMIC STRESS AMONG UNIVERSITY LECTURERS IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Lecturer health significantly influences teaching effectiveness, institutional productivity, and the sustainability of higher education across the globe. Yet, the financial and human costs associated with health neglect remain underexplored in Nigeria. This study examined the effects of job demands, job resources, and lecturers’ health outcomes on the financial and human costs incurred by universities in Lagos State. Primary data were collected from 450 lecturers across thirteen universities using structured questionnaires while the result of the multiple regression analysis revealed that high job demands significantly increase both human and financial costs, while adequate job resources mitigate these effects. Health outcomes were also found to exert a significant impact on financial costs, highlighting the direct economic consequences of declining lecturer well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of institutional support, including health insurance, workload management, and wellness programmes, in reducing absenteeism, healthcare expenses, and productivity losses. The study provides actionable insights for university management and policymakers, advocating for proactive occupational health strategies to safeguard staff welfare, minimize avoidable costs, and enhance the resilience and sustainability of higher education systems.