The Impact of Financial Stress on Social Studies Students' Academic Performance in Upper Basic Schools in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State

The study investigated the impact of financial stress on Social Studies students academic performance in Isoko-South local government area of Delta State. To guide this study three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated, answered and tested. The design for this study was correlational research design. The population for this study consisted of three thousand, seven hundred and fifty-eight (3758) Upper Basic students from 20 public secondary schools in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State 4,595 secondary school students. The sample of the study comprised 120 students selected through stratified sampling technique. Two research instruments were used for the study- The questionnaire tagged “Financial Stress and Students Academic Performance Questionnaire (FSSAPQ)”, students’ academic performance records (results) and school attendance register in their various classes through the help of the class teachers in their respective schools. The data collected were used to provide answers to the three research questions and three hypotheses using the descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation and correlational statistics at 0.05 level of significant. Based on the hypotheses tested, the study revealed that there is significant relationship between financial stress and Social Studies students’ academic performance; there is significant relationship between financial stress and Social Studies students’ assignment submission; there is significant relationship between financial stress and Social Studies students school attendance. It was recommended among others that financial practitioners and educators should develop interventions to promote positive adaptations; social practitioners and educators should also develop programmes that allow individuals to learn the appropriate mastery and social skills, which will positively impact on their assignment submission; and strategies to improve students financial strain should be put in place so as to make students financially adequate to attend school