Abstract:
This study was designed to identify the causes of stress and coping strategies adopted
among distance education students at the College of Distance Education in the University of
Cape Coast. A total of 332 diploma and post-diploma final year students in 2014/2015
academic year were selected from two study centers using random sampling procedure to
respond to self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire which was adapted to suit the
study context was pre-tested to ensure that it elicited valid response. The results of the
study showed that ‘academic workload’, ‘high frequency of examinations’, ‘financial
problems’, family/marriage problems’ were the major causes of stress among the students.
The study also found some statistical significant differences between married and unmarried
students with married students feeling more stressed with ‘financial problems’ and
‘family/marriage problems’ than unmarried students. Students used multiple strategies,
mainly praying/meditating, self-distracting activities such as watching TV and listening to
music to cope with stress. Other important stress coping strategies were emotional and
instrumental support from family, friends and lecturers. The study recommended among
others that the need for the counseling unit at College of Distance Education of UCC to
organize frequent stress management programs for students and assign academic counselors
