Peter, A., Adeniji, A., Oladele, K., Sajuyigbe, A., Peter, F., & Inegbedion, H.
Academics undergo stress, which negatively affects their performance and management does not seem to provide adequate organizational support for people suffering from occupational stress. This study examines eustress among university academic staff and provides viable recommendations that will help academics cope with stress and improve performance. Previous studies on stress among academics focused on their experience of distress, with little attempt to explore eustress particularly in the Nigerian context. This study was anchored on Yerkes-Dodson’s Theory. The study adopted a mixed-method to elicit information from the sampled 444 respondents and twelve in-depth interviews were also conducted. Descriptive and inferential research methods were used for the analysis. The quantitative data were analyzed using Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), while the qualitative data were subjected to manual thematic analysis. The result of the study indicated that the use of newer digital technologies provided an important source of eustress. Academic staffs that use cutting-edge technology experience unlimited speedy access to information and a reliable means to disseminate research outputs and findings. Also, the study revealed that role demand management which comprised skill discretion, meaningfulness, challenging task, management support, and time management significantly and positively influence the performance of academics in the selected Nigerian universities.