Navigating the New Normal as Correlate of Wellness of Civil Servants in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

This study examined navigating the new normal as a correlate of the wellness of civil servants in Akwa Ibom State. The study was guided by three objectives, three research questions, and three hypotheses. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. The target population for the study comprised 19,780 civil servants in both the State Secretariat (Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat) and the Federal Secretariat in Akwa Ibom State. A sample size of 392 respondents was selected for the study using the stratified random sampling technique. Two researcher-developed instruments titled “Navigating the New Normal Questionnaire (NNNQ)” and “Wellness Questionnaire (WQ)” were used for data collection. The instrument was face validated by three experts, two from the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education and one from the Department of Psychological Foundations of Education, University of Uyo. The reliability of the instrument was calculated using the Cronbach Alpha Statistical tool, which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.78. The collated data was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics to answer research questions, while the p-value associated with the r-coefficient was used to test the null hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. The findings revealed that physical activity, occupational safety, and digital literacy have significant relationships with the wellness of civil servants in Akwa Ibom State. Based on the findings, it was concluded that physical activity, occupational safety, and digital literacy are crucial determinants of the wellness of civil servants in Akwa Ibom State. It was recommended, among others, that the government should prioritize the promotion of physical activity among civil servants by integrating regular exercise programs and wellness initiatives into workplace policies.