Perceived Stressors and Coping Strategies among University Undergraduate Students Of the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State

Abstract

This study investigated the perceived stressors and coping strategies among university undergraduate students at the Niger Delta University. The Cognitive Appraisal Theory by Richard Lazarus served as the theoretical framework for this study. The cross-sectional survey design was used to sample 300 undergraduate students at the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State through a random sampling technique. Data for this study was collected through a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data collected for this study was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05. Findings from the study revealed that the average age of the respondents was 23.03±2.77, while about half of the respondents were male (50.7%). The study also revealed that a significant number of the respondents (71.0%) affirmed that they were stressed at the time of the study. Perceived stressors of undergraduate students include; academic workload, depression, finance, etc. It is recommended that the University should organize programs on stress management that will teach students how to deal with stressful events and develop good coping mechanisms.