Stress and Coping Strategies Among Students in the Accra College of Education, Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine stress and coping mechanisms of students of Accra College of Education. The descriptive survey design was chosen for the study. The population for the study was 1035 students of the Accra College of Education. Proportional stratified sampling method was used to sample 280 students. Data were gathered through the use of questionnaires. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, Independent Samples t-Test, and One-Way Analysis of Variance. The study revealed that the common stressors posing high level stress included studying and writing tests and examinations, dealing with heavy academic workload and unclear assessments, difficulty paying fees and supporting themselves financially. Also, it was found that stress affected the academic performance of students since they could not study well and were unable to prepare effectively before examinations. Regarding the personal-social lives of students, the study revealed that stress made students worry, affected their health, wellbeing, sleep quality and eating habits. The study revealed that chatting with friends, leaving matters in God’s hands, and praying, reading religious scripts and listening to spiritual songs were the coping strategies used by the students. Differences were observed in the stress and coping strategies of students on the basis of gender, age and marital status. It was recommended that the authorities of Accra College of Education make their timetable flexible and also provide a financial support scheme to help reduce the stress levels of students.