EFFECT OF STRESS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, EKIADOLOR-BENIN.

ABSTRACT

 This study looks at the effects of stress on the academic performance of students, source of stress and the strategies by which the effect of stress can be reduced among students of the College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin. The objectives was to show the relationship between stress and performance. Information for the study was obtained using the structured questionnaires with about 20 items. Some of the items were overload of course, poor classroom condition, lack of available laboratory and other sources of school stress. The data collected were coded and analyzed through the use of simple percentage. The analysis were carried out to facilitate discussions of the research questions. Some of the findings includes; that stress will always leads to poor academic performance in College of Education,  Ekiadolor-Benin. That the major source of stress in College of Education, Ekiadolor includes; overload of courses, poor classroom condition, and lack of available laboratories etc. that management has to put in place programmes to combat the stress and if adopted may be useful towards learning in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE =

Introduction

Background of the study

Statement of problem

Purpose of the study

Significance of the study

Hypothesis

Research problems

Scope/delimitation

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO         =

Literature review

CHAPTER THREE=

Design and methodology

Population and sample

Instrumental and data collection

Analysis of data

CHAPTER FOUR=

Presentation and analysis of data

Introduction

Percentage analysis

Research problem analysis

CHAPTER FIVE          =

Summary, conclusion and recommendation

Summary and conclusion

Recommendation

REFERENCES   =

QUESTIONNAIRE=  

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 

          This study focuses on the harm or good stress has done to students in relation to their academic performance in school.

          It is a common feature that students as individual or group interact with their environment, these experiences one way or  the other affect their academic performance.

          Stress has generated a great deal of interest in recent years. It has been of great concern to members of the academic and other researchers.

          To most people, stress is bad and must be avoided, but this position is not always true. According to Yates (1979) stress in proper amounts is a necessary ingredient in any person whose life is going to manifest vitality. Stress is to be managed and not simply avoided. Thus, this study is designed to look into the effect of stress on student’s academic performance using college of education, Ekiadolor-Benin as a case study. Ivancevish Matterson (1980) pointed out that  say stress produces performance degradation is rather a simplistic over started position. Thus, there must be an optimum level of stress that is tolerated to bring about performance. This stand point makes stress a complex concept that does not lead itself to a simple definition. Mc Garth (1776) defined stress in term of conditions necessary for it as follows: it is a potential for stress when environmental situation is perceived as presenting a demand that threatens to exceed the persons capabilities. Signs of stress are wide spread even among the teaching staff, that is lecturers who are the academic staff, the  senior non-teaching staff as well as the junior non-teaching staff today in the college. And so are the adverse effects on their well being, health and even the care of their students. Some negative effects of stress are increased absenteeism heart disease, lateness to class and ill-health.

          Stress can have both positive and negative consequences on the individual. Having optimum stress can lead to peak efficiency,  create satisfaction a sense of well being and accomplishment and other reward for success. On the other hand, excessive stress in school can result to loss of appetitive for reading, to perform well and declining mental and physical health. Stress is caused by some factors (stressors) which exist both within and without the school environment. These stressors can be identified as intra-individual, inter-individual, institutional and extra institutional stressors. In this regard, the present study seeks at finding out the causes, symptoms and effects as well as the relationship that exist between academic stress and students performance and finally to recommend stress coping strategies for management by using the students of College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin as subjects.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS         

          Gibson, Ivancevich and Donnelly (19955) defined stress as an adaptive response mediated by individual differences and psychological process, that is a consequence of any external (environmental) action, situation or physical demand on person. It can be gathered from the above that due to individual differences and different adaptive capabilities, factors that would cause stress often differ among individuals.  Some common factors have however been identified as sources of academic related stress, some of these are;

i.                   Lecture overload

ii.                Irregular lecture hours

iii.             Lightning condition

iv.              Classrooms and hostel conditions.

v.                 Inadequate finance

vi.              Time management etc.

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY  

          The purpose of carrying out this study is as follows;

i.                   To identify the possible source and symptoms of stress experience by College of Education  Ekiadolor Students.

ii.                To determine the effect of stress on students academic performance in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin.

iii.             To show that stress as, as experience is not limited to particular category of students.

iv.              To make appropriate recommendations on how stress can be managed based on the findings of the study.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

          The following research questions would be tested in this study;

a.     Does stress lead to poor students, poor academic performance in College of Education-Benin?

b.     Does institutional factor (such as poor infrastructure etc) lead to stress in the College?

c.     Does inadequate finance of students lead to stress in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin?

d.     Does lecture overload irregular lectures etc lead to stress in College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin? 

1.5     RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

          In carrying out this study, the researcher relied heavily on information collected from primary and secondary sources of information. This includes journals, magazines, newspapers, books and interview from the various respondents.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          This study is of a great importance to the College as institution. it would afford the College an opportunity to know the various factors predisposing students to stress with a view to ameliorating some of them by putting in place some measures such as; (a) Provision of good infrastructural facilities (b) The need to adhere strictly to the time table, (c) Stress management counselling unit etc. this study also intends to bring to the awareness of the College the effects of stress on students academic achievement. These reactions to stress vary from individual and afford the institution an insight into how much stress an individual can effectively handle.

1.7     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

          This study will be limited to the College environment because, the study is meant for the students of the College of Education, Ekiadolor selected students from the college will be used as subject for the study. It is hoped that findings from the students would also be a true reflection of some other colleges in the country.

1.8     DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Stress: Stress as used in this study is defined as an adaptive response, mediated by individual differences or psychological proceeds that is a consequence of any external (environmental) action, situation or event that places excessive psychological and physical demand on a person.

Performance: This is the extent to which an individual is able to accomplish successfully the task or goal assigned to him subject to the normal constraint and the reasonable utilization of the available resources.