Academic Stress and Academic Performance of Business Education Students in Public Colleges of Education in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined academic stress and the academic performance of business education students in colleges of education in Lagos State, Nigeria. Three research questions and corresponding research hypotheses were formulated.  The population of the study comprised 1850 full-time business education students studying in the three public colleges of education in Lagos State. A sample of 270 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. The Stress and Academic Performance Questionnaire (SAPQ) was used to collect relevant data. Out of the 270 copies of the questionnaire that were distributed, only 259 copies met criteria for data analysis, representing 95.9% return rate. Eleven copies of questionnaire returned were discarded for incomplete filling out; the remaining 259 copies were utilized for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study discovered that academic stress did not significantly impact students academic performance in public colleges of education in Lagos State. The study also discovered that there is statistically significant difference in academic performance between business education students who use different stress management strategies in public college of education in Lagos State. One of the recommendations given is that counseling centers should be instituted in the respective colleges of education and they should place more attention and support on counseling and training students to effectively manage and cope with stress.