Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND THE BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

The outbreak of corona virus diseases (COVID-19) has been substantially influencing the life and

living of people across the world, especially after the declaration of a global pandemic by the

World Health Organization in the second week of March 2020. One of the most affected

individual are the students. They have been introduce to new learning modalities unready, which

are the module and internet learning.  The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is creating a psycho-

emotional chaotic situation as countries have been reporting a sharp rise of mental health

problems, including anxiety, depression, stress, sleep disorder as well as fear, among its citizens.

Student wellness is an important topic on college campuses nationwide as higher education and

student life administrators are becoming increasingly concerned with stress among students.

(journal of financial therapy,volume 5,issue 1(2014). this stress affect the academic performance

of the students.

research regarding sources of stress confirms the influential role that personal financial

problems play in the lives of college students. Financial difficulties are often cited among college

students as sources of stress(Northern, O'Brien, & Goetz,2010; Ross,nielbing, & heckert,1999).

This unprecedented experience of ‘home quarantine’ under lockdown with the uncertainty of

academic and professional career has multifaceted impacts on the mental health of students.

financially stress students can't be able to think properly on their lesson as their mind focuses on

how they will get money in order to support their online study.
 Academic performance of student is a plus in future job employment of the student thus this

financial stress brought by the COVID-19 pandemic affecting it. Financial stress cannot be

disregarded as it gives student lack of concentration in their schooling or worst these condition

can lead to life-threatening illness.

Statement of the problem:

This research study determine the effect of financial stress on online students’ academic

performance. Specifically it will seek answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the 3rd year education student in terms of the following variable?

a. Age

b. Sex

c. Educational attainment of parents

d. Occupation of parent

e. Grade point average(GPA)

-Math

-English

-Science

2. What are the attitude of online student about seeking help with issues related to financial

stress?

3. What are the sources of fund of the online student?

4. What is the relationship between financial stress and academic performance?

What is the effect of financial stress of online student to academic performance?

 Significant of the study

The causal mechanisms linking financial concerns to college outcomes are not fully understood.

Researchers have suggested that financial strain may reduce students’ motivation to complete

college (Cabrera et al., 1992; Nora et al., 2006) or deplete the cognitive resources students have

available to allocate to academic concerns (Northern, O’Brien, & Goetz, 2010),yet few studies

have specifically examined the associations between financial concerns and academic

performance.

Thus this study of the effect of financial stress on online students academic performance at

Cagayan State University- Lal-lo, would serve as basis for teachers for them to recommend to

the authorities or agencies in extending financial assistance to address the needs of the

students.

Similarly the findings may also serve as the baseline data for future researchers of the college of

teacher education in conducting the research studies in the future. In addition, this may help

teachers to understand and help students who is undergoing financial stress in their future

teaching.

The result of the study will be useful to the university administration in formulating policies and

guidelines regarding scholarship program for the student. The findings will inform the

administration regarding the plight of student while undergoing online learning.

Furthermore, the result of the research study would help the researchers to come up with more

effective techniques in dealing with the financial stress of student. Thus, this would also prove

them correct ways in determining strategies that suited to every group of student depending on

their status in life.

 Definition of Terms

The following terms were defined to have clarity of understanding to the research:

Financial stress operationally refers to a condition that is the result of financial and/or economic

events that create anxiety, worry, or a sense of scarcity, and is accompanied by a

physiological stress response.(financial and health institute lab, financial stress). Theoretically,

financial stress is defined by researchers as the inability to meet one’s economic responsibilities

and is influenced by attitudes, beliefs, and other psychological factors (Northern, O’Brien, &

Goetz, 2010).

Online student operationally refers to Students who take nothing but entirely online classes.

Students who take most classes online, but who come to campus for a few

Students who take most of their classes on campus, but who regularly take one or two classes

online to make their schedules cleaner. Students who take “hybrid” classes (also called “brick and

click” or “surf and turf”) in which some of the regular class meetings are held (or replaced by

other activities) online. Students who take traditional classes that have fairly robust online

materials, and who have to work with/through our LMS in the course of what they’re doing.(matt

reed, February 19,2014).

Academic performance operationally refers to the measurement of student achievement across

various academic subjects.(ballotpedia, academic performance). Theoretically, from a humanistic

approach, Martinez (2007) states that academic performance is “the product given by the

students and it is usually expressed through school grades” (p. 34). Fifteen years ago, Pizarro

(1985) referred to academic performance as a measure of the indicative and responsive abilities

that express, in an estimated way, what a person has learned as a result of a process of education

or training.
 Theoretical Framework

Many student are going through difficulties on their study during this online learning, where one

of the main reasons of this is lack of financial which forces them find extra jobs in order for them

to earn some money or worst is they drop out in school.

According to a new study led by Harvard, Princeton and Warwick University scientists, financial

hardship may directly influence a person’s cognitive ability. Valentina Lee, Assistant Professor of

Psychology at FIU, studies stress and its effects. Lee refers to two different types of stress:

stressors and strains. Stressors are the conditions that require some sort of adaptation from the

individual and strains are the consequences of facing those stressors.“Financial stress is, like

many others, a significant stressor, not only among students but also working professionals. We

would expect it to have similar psychological, physical, and behavioral strains to that of many

other commonly studied stressors such as workload or conflict at work, ” said Lee in an email

statement.Lee refers to commonly experienced strains, such as depression, and affirms that any

form of stressor can have an impact on a person’s cognitive resources. She cites sleeplessness as

a common strain experienced among many as a stressor that can leave someone unable to

function at full mental capacity at work or school.

The assumed relationship between sources of fund and online student academic performance is

illustrated in the conceptual Paradigm. Taking cue from the proceeding discussion, the study

considers that student who do not have sources of incomes are viewed to have a lower

academic performance during this online learning.

This theory serves as the framework that will support the present study since it also determine

the effect of financial stress to the academic performance of a student.

 Conceptual Paradigm

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

PROFILE VARIABLE ONLINE STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

a. Age
b. Sex
c. Educational attainment of
parents
d. Occupation of parent
e. Grade point average(GPA)
-Math
-English
-Science
ATTITUDE OF ONLINE STUDENT
SOURCES OF FUND

Figure 1. relationship between the independent and dependent variables

The student profile variable such as age, sex, educational attainment of parents, occupation of

parents, grade point average(GWA) on three major subject (Math, English, and Science), attitude

of online student, and source of fund is perceived to influence the online students academic

performance.