Effect of Stress and Academic Achievement of Undergraduate Students of University of Uyo

Effect of Stress and Academic Achievement of Undergraduate Students of University of Uyo

CHAPTER ONE

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

To ascertain whether University of Uyo students are under stress
To ascertain whether stress affect academic performance of student of University of Uyo
To find out the common causes of stress in University of Uyo
To ascertain how stress affect the health of the University of Uyo students

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Stress

Researchers (Vermunt and Steensman, 2005; Topper, 2007; Ussery, 2007; Malach-Pines and Keinan, 2007) have defined stress as the perception of discrepancy between environmental demands (stressors) and individual capacities to fulfil these demands. While researcher (Campbell, 2006) defines stress as the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demands placed on them. Stress occurs when an individual is confronted by a situation that they perceive as overwhelming and cannot cope up with. Academic stress among students have long been researched on, and researchers have identified stressors as too many assignments, competition with other students, failures, lack of pocket money (Fairbrother and Warn, 2003), poor relationships with other students or lecturers, family or problems at home. Institutional (university) level stressors are overcrowded lecture halls, (Ongori, 2007; Awino and Agolla, 2008), semester system, and inadequate resources to perform academic work. Erkutlu and Chafra (2006) for instance opines that, when these events take place, an individual becomes disorganised, disoriented and therefore less able to cope up, thus resulting in stress related health problems. The pressure to perform well in the examination or test and time allocated makes academic environment very stressful (Erkutlu and Chafra, 2006; Polychronopoulou and Divaris, 2005; Misra and McKean, 2000). This is likely to affect the social relations both within the University and outside (Fairbrother and Warn, 2004) since there is conflict with the social aspect of one life. This not the only affect the social relations within or outside the University, but this goes to affect the individual person’s life in terms of commitment to achieving the goals. Knowing the causes of students stress will make the University administrator know how to monitor and control the stress factors that are responsible for the students stress. scholars (Ornelas and Kleiner, 2003; Jaramillo et al., 2004; Verment and Steesma, 2005; Ongori, 2007; Topper, 2007; Ongori and Agolla, 2008; Agolla, 2009) for instance identified the symptoms and the causes of stress in work environments as sitting for a long period of time, poor work performance, poor interpersonal relationship, inadequate or lack of resources, inadequate time to perform particular assignments, poor working conditions, overcrowded work stations, excessive paperwork, and many others. Whereas these factors have been found to be responsible for stress, it is worth noting that in order to minimise the stress among students, the University administrators must develop appropriate strategies that will enable them to detect in advance the symptoms and causes of the stress.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.

POPULATION OF THE STUDY

According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.

This study was carried to examine effect of stress and academic achievement of undergraduate students of University of Uyo. Selected students from University of Uyo form the population of the study.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.

TEST OF HYPOTHESIS

H₀: stress do not affect academic performance of student of University of Uyo.

H₁: stress affect academic performance of student of University of Uyo

H₀²: there are no common causes of stress in University of Uyo.

H₂: there are common causes of stress in University of Uyo.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain effect of stress and academic achievement of undergraduate students of University of Uyo. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of stress and academic achievement of undergraduate students of University of Uyo

Summary

This study was on effect of stress and academic achievement of undergraduate students of University of uyo. Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain whether University of Uyo students are under stress, to ascertain whether stress affect academic performance of student of University of Uyo, to find out the common causes of stress in University of Uyo and to ascertain how stress affect the health of the University of Uyo students. The study adopted a survey research design and conveniently enrolled 80 participants in the study. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected students of University of Uyo. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).

Conclusion

The researcher concluded that the findings show that there is a significant negative relationship between academic stress and academic achievement among the students, and a significant but weak positive relationship between academic engagement and academic performance. Additionally, the researcher concluded that there is a significant relationship between academic stress and academic achievement among the students.

Recommendations

From the findings of the study, the researcher was bound to recommend the following; The study recommended that the school of social science under the dean of the school should enforce more learning engagement activities for the students such that their academic performance increases. Basing on the above findings above, it can be suggested that the students should normally be given timetables for their tests, course works and exams in-order to reduce on the jam of too many activities which normally causes a lot of academic stress on the students. The school should also take steps to make the parents of the students aware of not placing too much pressure on their children this may help reduce on their academic stress and thus increased concentration among the students which bring about better performance.

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