IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES ON THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF EMPLOYEES OF MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Quite a number of psychological variables affect the performance of mass media employees. These variables include the work environment, personality factors, competence, social relationships, and health status. Job performance is associated with a combination of abilities, opportunities, and motivation in the work environment. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of these variables on the job performance of media employees at Vanguard newspapers, The Nation newspapers, Radio Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, and African Independent Television/Raypower Radio. The expectation theory served as the foundation for the study. The survey method of research was adopted for the work, and the data generated was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0. Participants consisted of journalists currently working in these five media organizations. Findings revealed that there was a significant joint influence of work environments, personality factors, competence, health status, social relationships, and family environments on job performance; while health status and work environments had significant independent influences on job performance. Based on these findings, recommendations were made. These included the need to improve working conditions for employees of media organizations in Lagos State, as well as other extrinsic motivation factors. It was also recommended that media employees harness their abundant social capital to enhance their job performance.   Keywords: Job performance, work environment, personality factors, competence, social relationships, health status, and family environment.