ABSTRACTThis thesis investigated the relationships among stress, coping strategies and academic achievement of University undergraduate students in Imo and Kaduna State. A correlational type of survey design was used for the study. Three faculties from the Universities were used. A Random Sampling Technique was used in selecting 337 students, both male and female for the study. The research instruments were the Students Stress Questionnaire (SSQ), Students Coping Strategy Questionnaire (SCSQ) and Students Academic Performance Scores (SAPS). The questionnaire has 25 items each scored on a four point Likert Scale ranging from (Strongly Agreed, Agreed, Disagreed, and Strongly Disagreed). The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used in the test of 4 hypotheses involving relationship while the independent t - test was used in testing 3 hypotheses involving significant difference. The finding of the study revealed that significant negative relationship exist between stress and academic achievement of students in Imo State with (r= -0.850, p=0.000) and in Kaduna State with (r= -0.785, p= 0.000) also significant relationship exist between coping strategy and academic achievement of students with (r=0.951, p=0.000) in Imo State and (r= -0.893, p= 0.000) in Kaduna State. No significant difference was revealed between Imo and Kaduna State students in the area of stress with (t=0.710, p=0.462). Also no significant difference was revealed between Federal and State university students in thearea of stress with (t=0.720, p=0.472). Significant difference existed between male and female students in their coping strategies with (t=0.5823, p=0.000). It was recommended among others that university environment should be made conducive by improving on hostel accommodation, conducive classrooms for lectures and amenities such as light and water. It is also recommended that universities should organize programs on stress management that will teach students how to appraise stressful events, develop coping skills and put these skills into practical use.
