CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF STUDENTS’ STRESS IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
We always hear the term “stress” been used around the world, but especially used by students. Some may not understand the reason why people use it. But in the cause of our discussion we shall know this. Stress is a psychological problem with adverse erects
on human performance and a threat to survival. Stress acts both the social and spiritual aspects of the individual. Stress comes in all forms and acts
people of all ages. Stress is a common thing experienced by both students and teachers. Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes mental unrest and that may be a factor in disease causation.
Stress is simply a fact of nature – forces from the outside world acting
the individual. Literature on stress agrees that there are different
levels of stress and that stress acts adolescents and adults especially (Iyamabo, Mohammed and Ike, 2001). Fear, anxiety and anger are common stressors that have their
clinical basis on stress. Stress comes in different
forms. It could be mental, physical, social or religious and could be observed or watched closely through the following symptoms;
insomnia (inability to sleep), boredom and cohesion. Academic/student stress among students have long been researched on and researchers have identified
stressors as too many assignments, competition with other students, failures, project or field work stress, lack of pocket money, poor relationships with other
students or lecturers, family or problems of home, over-crowded lecture halls, semester system and inadequate resources to perform academic work (Ongori,
Awino and Angolla, 2007/2008). Stress occurs when a student is confronted by a situation that they perceive as over-whelming and cannot cope up with.
Stress is a necessary thing in human beings lives because stress adds flavor, challenge and opportunity to our world. Stress is a part of every student’s daily
life. Stress has become part of us and as something every student goes through or must go through. In the right dose, it can be healthy or even enjoyable.
However, it provides many benefits, it can be damaging for students’ health, happiness, work performance, relationships and personal developments.
The five main causes of stress are; the new university environment, the new relationships, the competitive circumstances and exams, a lack of proper timemanagement
techniques and parental pressure. All these causes have adverse eects
or consequences. The causes could act or delimit the students’
performance or eagerness to learn. The student might not have the drive i.e. there might be no motivation to keep him/her going and this could lead to dropping out of school.
The term “stress” was first employed in a biological context by the endocrinologist, Hans Selye in 1930. The later broadened and popularized the concept to
include inappropriate physiological response to any demand. In his usage, stress refers to a condition and stressor to the stimulus causing it. It covers a wide
range of phenomenon, from mild imitation to drastic dysfunction that may cause severe health beat down. The stress the students go through could have erect on their academic performance.
