1.1 Introduction
Academic performance and cognitive activities like learning are influenced by sleep and mood or emotion. Sleep keeps life in balance, ensuring that energy used during day time will also be replenished by resting at night. However, when sleep is interrupted and unable to achieve a blissful rest, it may compromise the health and unfolding tasks that teenagers need to accomplish. Sleep, mood, and emotion: definitions and descriptions. Sleep duration refers to total amount of sleep obtained, either during the nocturnal sleep episode or across the 24-hour period (Kline, 2013a). Sleep quality is defined as one’s satisfaction of the sleep experience, integrating aspects of sleep initiation, sleep maintenance, sleep quantity, and refreshment upon awakening (Kline, 2013b).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Stress is a major source of problems that students face during their university education when they are struggling to achieve academic outcomes for their future life (Lee & Graham, 2001). Academic pressure is one of the factors that causes students to fail. Sharma, Parasar and Mahto (2017) define stress as the mental response and action by hormonal signaling, the perception of danger triggers an automatic response system, known as response to fight or flee.
Sleep is essential for the body, mind, memory, and learning. However, the relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of sleep and psychological stress among medical students and investigate the relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance.
Certain tensions set us in motion and are good for us without any tension, many say that our lives would be boring and possibly meaningless (Wilson, 2007). However, when stress undermines our psychological and physical health, it is bad. Students are subject to different types of stressors, such as pressure from academics with the obligation to succeed, an uncertain future and difficulties integrating into the system. Students also face social, emotional, physical and family problems that can affect their ability to learn and their academic performance (Rogers & Yassin, 2003).
Students’ academic performance is a key characteristic of education (Rono 2013). It is considered to be the center around which the entire education system evolves. Some factors influencing high academic achievement include daily hours of study, parents' economic status and good learning facilities (Singh, Malik & Singh (2016).
Stress can have both positive and negative consequences for the individual. Optimal stress can lead to maximum efficiency; create satisfaction, a feeling of well-being and accomplishment, and another reward for success (Mensah, Fosu, & Oteng, 2017). On the other hand, excessive stress at school can lead to loss of appetite for reading, poor performance and reduced mental and physical health. Stress is caused by certain factors (stressors) that exist inside and outside the school environment (Zautra, 2006). These stressors can be identified as intra-individual, inter-individual, institutional and extra- institutional stressors.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Relation of Stress, Sleep and Exercise on Academic Performance.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the lack of sleep negatively impacts the day activities, particularly performance in school. This includes off-task behavior, drowsiness, irritability, and lack of focus (Edwards, 2008). This is further verified in a study by Stanford that the consequences of sleep deprivation include lack of concentration, poor grades, anxiety, depression (Richter, 2015).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Relation of Stress, Sleep and Exercise on Academic Performance. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out the effects of stress on the academic performance of students of the University of Benin.
- To determine if there is a correlation between the health of students and sleep, exercise, and stress on academic performance.
- To investigate the common causes of stress for the university of Benin students.
- To determine if stress, sleep and exercise affect the health of the University of Benin students.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Do stress, sleep and exercise affect the health of the University of Benin students?
- Is there any correlation between the health of students and sleep, exercise, and stress on academic performance?
- What are the common causes of stress for the university of Benin students?
- What are the effects of stress on the academic performance of students of the University of Benin?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant correlation between the health of students and sleep, exercise, and stress on academic performance.
- H1: There is a significant correlation between the health of students and sleep, exercise, and stress on academic performance.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There are no significant effects of stress on the academic performance of students of the University of Benin.
- H1: There are significant effects of stress on the academic performance of students of the University of Benin.
1.7 Significance of Study
The finding of this study, after it has well been disseminated will create an awareness on what stress is, its causes and its effect on academic performance of students. This research will enumerate the negative impacts of sleep deprivation of which teachers will take notice.
This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Relation of Stress, Sleep and Exercise on Academic Performance using the students of University of Benin (UNIBEN) as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Stress Management: Refers to a series of measures taken by an individual or an institution to reduce the possible negative effects of stress (Smith et al, 2010).
Academic Performance: Refers to how the student obtains a score in a given exercise in class, homework or exams. It is measured by the grades they get and also their participation in class (Nana & Gowtham, 2014).
