RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC STRESS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OWERRI WEST L.G.A IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between academic stress and academic performance of Secondary school students in Owerri West Imo state, Nigeria. Two objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses served as a guide to this study. The Descriptive survey research design and correlational research design were adopted for the study. The population of the study covered a total number of 1,895 students in 12 public secondary schools (mixed) in Owerri West. The sample size of this study covered a total number of 300 students drawn from 3 out of 12 public secondary schools using Systematic random sampling technique. Students’ achievement scores and a validated four-point Likerts scale questionnaire entitled: Academic Stress of secondary students’ questionnaire (ASSQ) were the instruments employed for data collection. The questionnaire after validation indicated a reliability index of 0.73 which is fairly adequate for the study. The findings showed that, the mean academic performance scores of secondary school students in Owerri West Imo State is average including English language and Mathematics; the study equally reviewed that among secondary school students in Owerri West Imo state, there was significant positive relationship between academic stress and academic performance. Based on the findings, the study recommended the need for school administrators in Imo state to provide the prerequisite academic environment to boost students’ academic performance particularly in English language and Mathematics; the study also recommended the need for schools to establish functional career units to orientate and sensitize students on the coping strategies for Stress in order to enhance their academic performance.