Impact of Stress on Students’ Academic Performance in Zanzibar’s Higher Learning Institutions

Abstract

In today’s highly competitive world, students face various academic problems including stress, which result in an increased prevalence of psychological and physical problems like anxiety, depression and nervousness which in turn affect their academic results and performance. The main aim of this study was to explain the impact of stress on the students’ academic performance in Zanzibar Higher Learning Institutions. A cross sectional survey research design was utilized and a quantitative approach used to analyze primary data from the respondents. Data was collected from 100 respondents using structural questionnaire and descriptive statistical technique was used for data analysis. The study was focused on three independent variables (Course work, Teaching methods and Course content). The key findings revealed that, long course work is the leading factor which gives academic stress to higher learning Institution students as majority 49 (49.0%) of respondents, on the other hand majority 30 (30%) of respondents said that, sometimes they are unable to study because of course content and the majority 52 (52%) of respondents also said that, they are getting high stress level because of academic performance. The findings also revealed that, the majority of the respondents 66 (66%) agreed that, teaching methods affect academic performance of the students in a very high way, 34 (34%) of the respondents said that teaching methods do not have any effect on academic performance.