Al-Hikmah University Journal

This study investigated the impact of psychological distress on academic performance of female students in tertiary institutions in Lagos state.  A simple quantitative research was carried out in three tertiary institutions in Yaba Local Government Area. A closed-ended Questionnaire was designed by the researcher which was used as the research instrument to collect relevant and needed data from the respondents of this study. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings from the study revealed that the key psychological factors that affect female students’ academic performance include: economic factors and physical/natural changes. Female students face both academic and non-academic challenges such as: responsibilities of motherhood, gender inequality, gender-based violence against women and girls, early marriage challenges, financial instability and female monthly cycle, intimate relationships challenges which could lead to heart-breaks and depression that summarily have the propensity to alter their state of mind at every point in time making women  feel unpleasant thereby releasing negative energy that could result in low performance in all aspects of their academic performance.