Stress Levels, Health Seeking Behaviors and Academic Performance Among Students of Kampala International University (Kiu), Uganda.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between stress levels, health seeking behaviors and academic performance among students of Kampala International University (KIU) Kampala, Uganda. The study was guided by three stated objectives: To determine the relationship between stress levels and academic performance among students; To examine the difference between the levels of stress experienced among male and female students; To establish relationship between health seeking behaviors and academic performance among students. The study used descriptive correlational research design with quantitative approach. The population of the study was 10923 students ~population, Slovene’s formula for selection of the sample size was used. The drawn sample size was 386. Data was analyzed in SPSS version 22.0. The findings of the study revealed that there is significance negati’ e relationship between stress levels and academic performance. Findings also revealed that there is no significance difference between the stress levels experienced among male and female students. The study found that there is a significant negative relationship between health seeking behaviors and academic performance. It was concluded that there is a relationship between stress levels, health seeking behaviors and academic performance. Based on the study findings, the following recommendations were made. The university management and other stakeholders (DSA and DS) should ensure that students engage in adequate sports, social and recreational activities in order to cope and manage their stress levels to improve academic performance. The lecturers, as veIl as school authority (DAA, DVC AA and DSA) should collaboratively guide students on how to develop and improve their academic performance and ensures that the learning atmosphere is conducive for the students in order to reduce stress levels among students, there should be maintained gender balance in academic, social, recreational and sport activities in the university. It was also recommended that university management (DAA, DVC AA and DSA) and lecturers should encourage students to engage in proper health seeking behaviors in order to promote their health, cope with stress and in turn achieve good academic performance.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 6

1.3 Purpose of the study 6

1.4 Objectives of the study 6

1.5 Research Questions

1.6 Research Hypotheses 7

1.7 Scope of the study 7

1.8 Significance of the study 8

1.9 Operational definitions 9

CHAPTER TWO 11

LITERATURE REVIEW 11

2.0 Introduction 11

2.1 Theoretical review 11

2.2 Conceptual framework 14

2.3 Review of related literature 15

2.4 Empirical studies 29

2.5 Gap in literature for the studies 30

CHAPTER THREE 32

METHODOLOGY 32

3.0 Introduction 32

3.1 Research design 32

3.2 Location of the study 32

VIII

3.3 Study Population .32

3.4 Sample Size 33

3.5 Sampling procedure 33

3.6 Data Sources 34

3.7 Method of Data Collection 35

3.8 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument 35

3.9 Data Analysis 38

3.10 Ethical Consideration 38

3.11 Limitations of the Study 39

CHAPTER FOUR 40

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND iNTERPRETATION 40

4.0 Introduction 40

4.1 Response Rate 40

4.2 Demographic characteristics of Respondents 40

4.3 Presentation of the relationship between stre~s levels and academic performance among

students 42

4,4: Presentation of the difference between the levels of stress experienced among male and female

students 4

4.5: Presentation of the relationship between health seeking behaviors and academic performance

among students of Kampala International University 44

CHAPTER FIVE 46

DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 46

5.0 Introduction 46

5. 1 Discussions 46

5.2 Conclusion 50

5.3 Recommendations 51

5.4 Contribution to Knowledge 51

5.5 Suggested areas for further studies 52

REFERENCES

APPENDICES 61

APPENDiX I: QUESTIONNAIRE 61

APPENDIX II: STRESS LEVELS AMONG STUDENTS 63

APPENDIX III: ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG STUDENTS 64

APPENDIX IV: MAP OF KAMPALA SHOWfIJG KIU 65

APPENDIX V: DATA ANALYSIS TABLES 66

APPENDIX VI’ INTRODUCTORY LETTER 69