An Evaluation Of Academic Stress And Coping Mechanism Among Married Female Students In Nigerian Tartiary Institutions

Abstract

The study assessed and evaluated academic stress coping mechanisms adopted by married female students in Nigerian tertiary institutions. This was with the aim of exploring the influence of academic stress on married female students‟ academic performance and their coping strategies used to enhance their academic performances. The quantitative data for this study was collected from 250 stratified and purposively selected married female students from 6 randomly selected faculties in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, through a simple random sampling technique. The quantitative data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The Qualitative data collected through In-depth Interviews was analysed using the TextBase Beta. The study revealed that there was no significant relationship (2val =17.41, P≤0.0,) between years of marriage and high academic performance among married female students. It was also revealed that age had no significant influence (r-val = (.086), r-cal = (0.19), P ≤ 0.05) on their high academic performance. Finally, this study also showed that there was a significant relationship (r-val .000, r-cal = (0.19, P ≤ 0.05) between adjustment strategies adopted and high academic performance among married female students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. In conclusion, academic activities and pursuit by married female students are stressful period in their academic training. Many married female students experience substantial level of stress as a result of role conflict, which contributes to poor academic performance, academic dishonesty, cynicism, and substance abuse. Also, the various adjustment mechanisms contributed greatly to their high academic performance and achievement.