IMPACT OF STRESS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the relationship between stress levels, mental health and academic performance among students at Makerere University. The study was intending to achieve the following objectives; to examine the relationship between stress and mental health, to examine the relationship between stress and academic performance and the relationship between mental health and academic performance. A correlational study design was used in the study to establish the relationship between stress, mental health, and academic performance among Makerere University students. The study used a sample of 80 respondents who were obtained using simple sampling technique. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire and later analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists. Descriptive statistics showed that majority were female respondents (75.0%), majority were between 21-24 years (91.3%). Results indicate that there was a significant negative relationship between stress and mental health (r= -.832**, p=.000), as well as stress and academic performance (r= -.435**, p=.002). Also the results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between mental health and academic performance (r= .346**, p=.0