PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Academic stress refers to all kinds of things that trigger tension, otherwise known as stressors, that can be interpersonal, intrapersonal, social, health-related, environmentally related that impede academic growth in educational institutions. Stress in a mild measure is said to spark the fire of motivation and hard work in individuals. However, excessive academic stress that is beyond the coping resources of students and faculty staff stifles their academic and professional progression and can be detrimental to their health. If not well managed, unbridled academic stress can trigger physiological, mental, emotional and physical consequences. This paper comprehensively presents a review of current studies on academic stress. It thoroughly explains the concept of stress, the common academic stressors, their negative implications and stress coping or management mechanisms. Using the research methods, desk survey and document analysis, a systematic search was carried out. The study contends that academic stress when well managed, can help in promoting academic work, elicit good academic outcomes from students and ensure high professional output from faculty staff in higher institutions.