Is Stress Justifiable in Tertiary Institutions? -By Salisu Abdulazeez Lawal

INTRODUCTION:

Stress can simply be defined as “a state of physical, mental, psychological or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.” In tertiary institutions, students often experience stress due to various factors such as:

1. Academic pressure.
2. Financial difficulties.
3. Time management challenges.
4. Social and personal issues.
5. Extracurricular activities among others.

While it is true and understandable that stress can be a normal part of life, it is not justified in tertiary education, as it doesn’t only effect students’ mental and physical health and academic performance but negatively destabilise the overall well-being of students.

This stress that students experience in tertiary institutions is often as a result of the combination of the aforementioned factors.

Academic pressure is a major contributor, as students are expected to meet high standards and achieve good grades. Achieving high and good grades in tertiary institutions isn’t an easy task for students as they feel the overwhelming burden of the workload. Attending lectures, conducting presentations, seminars, workshops, assignments and seating for examinations all are rooted with its bundle of stress. Amidst all these, there is a need for them to balance their studies with these responsibilities with the fear of failure haunting them day and night.

Financial difficulties can never be omitted from the list, as students have to struggle to pay for tuition, accommodation, textbooks, living cost i.e catering for the other basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, housing, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses. It is evident to understand that financial stress happens to be one of the cause been linked to increased dropout rates among students. Most students who are experiencing financial difficulties are more likely to have lower grades and poor academic performance. This category of Students find it difficult to focus on their studies and thus reduce their concentration, focus and motivation. Often than not, They appear at the receiving end hopeless with withdrawing from their studies as the only achievable option, which realistically have a lasting negative impact on the society as this have been attributed to the cause of high criminality rate in our societies.

The time management challenges is also another factor that contribute to stress in tertiary institutions. Students often have to juggle within variety of responsibilities which makes it difficult for them to prioritize and manage their time effectively. The inability of resisting these feelings of stress and anxiety leads to a negative-effects direction. As even for the highly strategic students, they find it sweaty to manage time efficiently and effectively as Universities or other tertiary institutions are known for their impromptu engagements. A class or many other program can be scheduled unexpected to the existing strategy or allocated time. All these together can have a negative impact on their academic performance and overall well-being.

Social and personal issues is also a significant source of stress for students in tertiary education. For the Root words “Social”and”Personal”,the former relates to the effects of society and group interactions on individual(Students)while the latter has to do with the individual relationships itself. There are some many examples of such personal and social issues that hindered students growth and inflict stress. For example, many students experience homesickness and loneliness, especially those who are living away from home for the first time. They usually appear commemorating their friends and family and thus makes them feel isolated and disconnected from their support system. Other students find it difficult to acclimatize their new environment and friends for which all can constitute intense stress and strains. In addition, students may face challenges in their relationships, such as conflicts with roommates, course mates or loving partners. All these makes them struggle with different social and personal issues that levelled their stress.

In conclusion, stress is not justified in tertiary education, as it can have serious consequences for students’ mental and physical health, academic performance, and overall well-being. It is important for students to recognize the sources of their stress and take steps to manage it effectively. Some strategies for coping with stress include setting realistic goals, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and reaching out for help when needed. By addressing the causes of stress and taking steps to manage it, students can improve their quality of life and achieve success in their studies.

A.S.LAWAL