Causes and consequences of academic stress among final year students of University of Ibadan: Implications for counselling

Abstract

This study examined the causes and consequences of academic stress among final year students of University of Ibadan. Descriptive survey design was adopted and purposive sampling technique was employed to select two hundred final year students at the University of Ibadan. The samples were administered with a researchers-developed instrument tagged: “Questionnaire on Causes and Consequences of Academic stress (QCCAS)”. The findings of the study revealed that too many assignments, competitions with other students, and poor relationships with lecturers were among the major causes of academic stress, while low academic performance, complain of depression and school dropout were part of the major consequences of academic stress among final year students of University of Ibadan. Further findings revealed no significant difference in the causes of academic stress among final year students of University of Ibadan based on age while significant difference was revealed based on religion; there were no significant differences in the consequences of academic stress among final year students of University of Ibadan based age and religion. It was therefore, recommended that the school authority, lecturers and guidance counsellors should work hand in hand in creating good interpersonal relationships and in ensuring conducive environment for effective learning on the part of the students. Also, school counsellors should provide adequate counselling to students on the causes and consequences of academic stress through information and orientation services in school.