IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

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.