The association between stress and academic performance

Hedler Silveiro, Miguel (2025) The association between stress and academic performance. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Aims: This study sought to investigate the complex relationship between stress and academic performance. Method: A questionnaire was administered to 69 participants. It included basic demographic questions and three scales. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Perceived Academic Performance Scale (PAPS) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE).

Results: An initial Pearson correlation analysis found a significant moderate negative between perceived stress and perceived academic performance (r = -.344, p = .004), however a multiple regression analysis that controlled for other variables did not find that perceived stress could significantly predict perceived academic performance (β = -.103, p = .522). Rather, general self-efficacy was the only variable able to significantly predict perceived academic performance (β = .445, p = .003). This model explained 24.3% of variance in academic performance.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that stress does not have a direct effect on academic performance when controlling for self-efficacy. This could mean that psychological interventions within a higher education context could be more effective at increasing academic performance by focusing on improving students’ self-efficacy rather than reducing stress. Though a combined approach is recommended. However, further research is necessary.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Supervisors:	Name Email Fox, Robert UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Stress (Psychology)
Divisions:	School of Business (- 2025) > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	17 Nov 2025 15:49
Last Modified:	17 Nov 2025 15:49
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/8930

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