College students’ problems and their link to academic performance: Basis for needs-driven student programs

Abstract

Students are facing various challenges in life that may have adverse effects to their academic performance yet some school programs are not student needs-driven. This descriptive research study discusses the problems experienced by the 350 students of a higher education institution in the Philippines with the hope to craft activities that are responsive to their needs and academic achievement. The data were collected through questionnaire and registration methods. Descriptive analysis shows that around 9 percent to 23 percent of the students experience problems in academic, social, family, emotional, personal, financial and spiritual aspects whose degree ranges from moderate extent to very great extent. The problems reflect teachers’ lapses in classroom management and pedagogy, and lack of activities that support students’ holistic development and effective learning habits. Linear regression analysis confirms that their problems explain significantly a variance that ranges from 19 percent to 36 percent in their academic performance. Hence, this research offers implications that can help address the adversaries of high academic achievement.