ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine the Perceived effect of stress on the academic performance of the students of University of Benin (UNIBEN). The study focuses on the entire students studying in the University of Benin Campus. The objective of the study was to identify the causes of academic stress among University of Benin students, examine effect of academic stress on students, examine the effect of stress on the academic performance and examine the possible measures that would reduce the level of stress among students of University of Benin. The survey research design was employed in the study. The population for the study was fourty-six thousand, two hundred and thirty-two (46,232) students from which three hundred (300) Students were selected using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument for the data collection was a self-constructed questionnaire which comprises of 20 items. The data obtained were analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage.
The result revealed that: academic stress can be caused by distance from place of study, little or no income provided for the students by their parents or Guardians, health problem of the students, clashes in their course timetable and shortage of course reference materials. Academic stress can lead to emotional and mental disturbance in students, leads to sleep disorder, causes examination anxiety, slow progress of the students towards academic activities and also, it can lead to poor attendance of students to class. The researcher based on so many findings was able to draw conclusions such as; the academic performance of students can be affected when they are stressed. Academic stress can lead to too much course work load on the students, students who are victims of academic stress have difficulties in understanding what they are taught. Academic stress can lead to low self-esteem of the students thereby affecting their academic performance.
Based on the results and conclusions of the study, the researcher recommended that students should learn how to manage their time and resources so as to be able to reduce the level of stress affecting students of University of Benin. Also, the University should institute programs that can help identify and reduce the causes and effects of stress among students. Counselling programs in the University should be strengthened.
