Social support and performance among non-teaching employees in selected public universities in Kenya

Lily Andeyo Mugove; Willis Ingabo Otuya; Gordon Misigo

doi:10.51867/ajernet.6.4.48

Authors

Lily Andeyo Mugove
lmugove@mmust.ac.ke
Masinde Muliro University of science and Technology, Kenya https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0211-9296
Willis Ingabo Otuya Masinde Muliro University of science and Technology, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2068-9744
Gordon Misigo Masinde Muliro University of science and Technology, Kenya https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3462-9665

Keywords:

Non-Teaching Employees, Performance, Selected Public Universities, Social Support

Abstract

Globally, non-teaching staff execute critical roles in the operations of universities, supporting mission, vision, research, and service to the community through performance. There is a notion that work obligations and personal and family duties flow over into one another, affecting employee performance. Kenyan public universities experience drops in productivity due to inadequate employee performance. Non-teaching employees’ support is to support access to quality education to contribute to positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes. Specifically, the study focused on establishing social support’s effects on performance using theories of spillover and social exchange with positivist research philosophy. The eight selected public universities were the unit of analysis. The study’s target population was 3538. Random stratified sampling techniques ascertained a sample size of 343 respondents. A descriptive andcross-sectionaln survey design was employed. The questionnaire and interview schedule were used as data instruments. A pilot test was done at the University of Eldoret. A Cronbach’s alpha tested the reliability of instruments. The validity of the interview schedule was tested with content analysis and expertjudgement.. Diagnostic tests were done before inferential statistics confirmed the variable violation. Data cleaning used SPSS27.0,0 and descriptive statistics were presented in frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation, content, and expertjudgementt analysis. Inferential statistics were presented in tables and graphs. The findings results revealed a strong significant association between social support and performance with a linearity of (0.212 > 0.05). Findings contribute information to public universities, government, and human resource practitioners to develop strategies and policies that promote performance. The research concluded and recommendedther development of related studies in the future.

Dimensions

REFERENCES

Adeniran, A. O. (2019). Application of Likert scale's type and Cronbach's alpha analysis in an airport perception study. Scholar Journal of Applied Sciences and Research, 2(4), 1-5.

Afzal, S., Arshad, M., Saleem, S., & Farooq, O. (2019). The impact of perceived supervisor support on employees' turnover intention and task performance: Mediation of self-efficacy. Journal of Management Development, 38(5), 369-382.

https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-03-2019-0076 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-03-2019-0076

Alcover, C. M., Rico, R., Turnley, W. H., & Bolino, M. C. (2017). Psychological contracts in teams. In The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of team working and collaborative processes (pp. 417-439). Wiley Blackwell.

https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118909997.ch18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118909997.ch18

Amstad, F. T., Meier, L. L., Fasel, U., Elfering, A., & Semmer, N. K. (2011). A meta-analysis of work-family conflict and various outcomes with a special emphasis on cross-domain versus matching-domain relations. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 16(5), 151-169. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022170 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022170

Astawa, K., Armoni, N. L. E., & Suardani, A. A. P. (2023). The importance of supervisor support to improve employee performance and retention in 5-star hotels in Bali. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 47, 240.

https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v47i1.9466 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v47i1.9466

Bello, Z., & Tanko, G. I. (2020). Review of work-life balance theories. GATR Global Journal of Business Social Science Review, 8, 217-227.

https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2020.8.4(3) DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2020.8.4(3)

Blau, P. M. (1964). Justice in social exchange. Sociological Inquiry, 34, 193-206.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1964.tb00583.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1964.tb00583.x

Brunetto, Y., Xerri, M. J., Nelson, S., & Farr-Wharton, B. (2016). The role of informal and formal networks: How professionals can be innovative in a constrained fiscal environment. International Journal of Innovation Management, 20(3), 1650051.

https://doi.org/10.1142/S1363919616500511 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S1363919616500511

Charoensukmongkol, P., & Phungsoonthorn, T. (2021). The effectiveness of supervisor support in lessening perceived uncertainties and emotional exhaustion of university employees during the Covid-19 crisis: The constraining role of organizational intransigence. The Journal of General Psychology, 148(4), 431-450.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.2020.1795613 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.2020.1795613

Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16, 297-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310555 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310555

CUE Report: 2018/2019: Improving the performance of public universities in delivering higher education in Kenya. (November, 2022).

Grzywacz, J. G., & Marks, N. F. (2000). Reconceptualizing the work-family interface: An ecological perspective on the correlates of positive and negative spillover between work and family. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(6), 111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//1076-8998.5.1.111

https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.5.1.111 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.5.1.111

Hidayah, I., Siti, N., Suan, C. L., & Karatepe, O. M. (2019). The effects of supervisor support and self-efficacy on call center employees' work engagement and quitting intentions. International Journal of Manpower, 40(4), 688-703.

https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-12-2017-0320 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-12-2017-0320

Homans, G. C. (1961). Social behavior: Its elementary forms. Harcourt Brace & World.

Khan, F., Rasli, A. M., Yasir, M., & Khan, Q. (2019). Interaction effect of social support: The effect of workload on job burnout among universities academicians: Case of Pakistan. International Transaction Journal of Engineering, Management, & Applied Sciences & Technologies, 10(13), 10A3.

Khedher, H., & Asadullah, M. A. (2020). Role of social and organizational support in the adjustment of Tunisian self-initiated expatriates. European Journal of Training and Development, 44(2/3), 171-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-08-2019-0142 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-08-2019-0142

Kothari, C. R., & Garg, G. (2014). Research methodology: Methods and techniques (3rd ed.). New Age International Publishers.

Mongdong, A., Hartati, M. E., & Sengkey, M. M. (2021). The effect of coworkers' social support on performance in Tomohon City. Psychopedia, 2(1), 123-130.

Mugenda, O., & Mugenda, A. (2019). Research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches (3rd rev. ed.). Nairobi.

Nasurdin, A. M., Tan, C. L., & Khan, S. N. (2020). The impact of social support on nurses' motivation: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 32(8), 430-435. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539520965026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539520965026

Ngome, P., & Mulinya, C. (2018). The challenge of integrating street trade in the urban development plan and policies: Kakamega Town, Kenya. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 23(7), 78-89.

Nielsen, M. B., Christensen, J. O., Finne, L. B., & Knardahl, S. (2020). Workplace bullying, mental distress, and sickness absence: The protective role of social support. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 93, 43-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01463-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01463-y

Okhonjo, G. F., Kadima, M. J., & Miroga, J. (2022). Social support practices on work pressure among employees in banking sector, Kakamega Town; Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 9(2), 1102-1115.

https://doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v9i2.2321 DOI: https://doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v9i2.2321

Oludayo, A. O., & Omonijo, D. O. (2020). Work-life balance: Relevance of social support. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 19(3), 1-10.

Pelin, I. I., & Osoian, C. (2021). Co-workers support and job performance. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Oeconomica, 66(2), 74-86.

https://doi.org/10.2478/subboec-2021-0010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/subboec-2021-0010

Puspitasari, K. D., & Ayu. (2018). The effect of workload and social support on employee performance at PT. Perkebunan Nusantara X Sustainable Sugar Factory in Nganjuk. Journal of Management Science, 6(4), 394-400.

Putra, F., Asbari, M., Purwanto, A., Novitasari, D., & Santoso, P. B. (2021). Linking social support and performance in higher education. International Journal of Social and Management Studies, 2(1), 64-73.

Rahmawati, M., & Irwana. (2020). The effect of work stress, work satisfaction and social support on nursing performance in Sebatik's Community Health Center (Puskesmas). Jurnal Ekonomika, 11(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.35334/jek.v11i2.1408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35334/jek.v11i2.1408

Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson.

Skiba, T., & Wildman, J. L. (2019). Uncertainty reducer, exchange deepener, or self-determination enhancer? Feeling trust versus feeling trusted in supervisor-subordinate relationships. Journal of Business and Psychology, 34(2), 219-235.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9537-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9537-x

Tummers, L., Steijn, B., Nevicka, B., & Heerema, M. (2018). The effects of leadership and job autonomy on vitality: Survey and experimental evidence. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 38(3), 355-377.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X16671980 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X16671980

Wulantika, L., Ayusari, R. M., & Wittine, Z. (2023). Workload, social support and burnout on employee performance. Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research, 10(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v10i1.1069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v10i1.1069

Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper and Row.

Zhao, Y., Peng, X., Liu, Z., Song, S., & Hansen, P. (2020). Factors that affect asker's pay intention in trilateral payment-based social Q&A platforms: From a benefit and cost perspective. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 71(5), 516-528. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24262

Zulhakim, Z., Suparman, L., & Suryatni, M. (2022). The effect of resilience and social support on the performance of female nurses in Mataram City hospitals with work engagement as a mediation variable. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 9(6), 485-500.