Stress and Academic Performance

The study was undertaken to identify the sources of stress among students of high and low academic performance. The questionnaire was administered on 656 pure science and applied science under graduate students from Bangalore city. Academic performance is referred to the end-term results in the previous semester. The tool used for the present study was Stressful Life Events Inventory – Student form (Rao, 1986). The findings of the study showed that majority of the students’ perceived education as more stressful. High and low academic performing students as well as pure and applied science course students differed significantly on sources of stress. Implications and suggestions of the study were discussed with teachers and an enrichment program on stress management was employed.