Marital Stress and Academic Performance of Female Students in Tertiary Institutions of Sokoto State

Abstract

The increasing enrolment of married women in tertiary institutions has heightened concerns about the psychosocial challenges they face while balancing academic and marital responsibilities. This study examined the prevalence and major causes of marital stress among married female students in tertiary institutions in Sokoto State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on Role Strain Theory and Family Stress Theory, which explain stress as a consequence of competing role demands and inadequate coping resources. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised married female students enrolled in selected tertiary institutions in Sokoto State, including universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, and schools of nursing. A multi- stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 190 respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Marital Stress and Academic Performance Questionnaire . The instrument was subjected to expert validation, and its reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha with a coefficient of 0.868. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The findings revealed a high prevalence of marital stress among married female students in tertiary institutions in Sokoto State. Major causes of marital stress identified include financial difficulties, academic workload, childcare and domestic responsibilities, and spousal misunderstanding. The results further indicated that role conflict arising from the simultaneous demands of marital and academic responsibilities significantly contributes to increased stress levels among the respondents. The study concluded that marital stress constitutes a significant challenge to the wellbeing and academic engagement of married female students in tertiary institutions. It therefore recommended the strengthening of counselling services, adoption of flexible academic policies, promotion of spousal and family support, and provision of family-friendly support services to enhance the academic success and overall wellbeing of married female students. P-ISSN 2695 2416 Key Words: Marital Stress, Academic Performance and Female Students

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