Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies among Final Year Students in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

Aims: The study determined, the causes of stress among final year students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The study further determined coping strategies used in managing stress among final year students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Study Design: Descriptive survey research design

Place and Duration of Study: Final year students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, between 2019/2020.

Methodology:Stratified disproportionate random sampling was used to select 360 final year student’s 2019/2020. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled causes of stress and coping strategies questionnaire. Cronbach alpha formula which yielded correlation coefficient of 0.70. Out of 360 copies of the questionnaire administered, 351 were correctly filled and returned giving a percentage return rate of 0.98. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The criterion mean was set at 2.50 and above as agree and below 2.49 as disagree.

Results: results presented in Table 1 reports that out of 11 causes of stress listed, respondents rated all the items agreed with mean score ranging from 2.74 to 3.77. Similarly, the grand mean score of 3.16 indicates that final year students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria agreed that the items listed are causes of stress among students. The standard deviation is heterogenous, this implies that the respondents’ scores are widely apart from the mean rating scores. The study further revealed that that out of 11 items listed on coping strategies used in managing stress, the respondents agreed that items 12, 15, 16, 17. 20 and 21 are coping strategies for managing stress while they disagreed on five items as coping strategies used in managing stress. The grand mean score of 2.56 indicates that final year students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria agreed that majority of the items listed are coping strategies used in managing stress. From the standard deviations scores recorded, there is homogeneity in respondents’ ratings.

Conclusion: In conclusion, stress exist and is caused by so many factors such as academic pressure, social problem, family stress, financial burden, management skills, uncomfortable classroom, adjustment to new environment among others. It is also concluded that students adopt and employ various coping strategies in managing stress. These strategies range from going for sporting activities when stressed, listening to music, and hanging out with friends and relatives for extra social activities.