EFFECT OF LOW GPA ON STUDENT’S MENTAL

HEALTH

SUBMITTED BY: (GROUP - 7)

Ali Hamza Khan 16L-4280
Moiz Ahmed 16L-4349
Aqib Chaudhry L15-4371
Agha Bazaid Khan 16L-4211
Maghfoor Ahmad Bilal 14L-5869
Ayman Abaid 16L-4127

SUBJECT:
PSYCHOLGY
SECTION:
CS-C
SUBMITED TO:
Ma’am Raheela Tariq
DATE:
October 29, 2018
 Acknowledgements

Primarily we would like to thank our Technical and Business Writing course instructor,” Ma’am
Faiza Shakeel” for providing valuable guidance, constant motivation and recommendations
throughout the research. Secondly, we are thankful to all the researchers who previously studied
on the following topic and provided us with a deeper awareness about the topic. Thirdly, we
would like to thank FAST University Library staff for allowing us to use library resources and
guiding us to find best material for our research. Last but not the least we would like to thank
our batch mates and seniors who took out some time from their busy schedule to help us in
finalizing this project within the limited time frame.

Thanks.

2
 ABSTRACT

The main aim of this survey was to discuss the effect of low GPA on student’s mental health. To

fulfill our aim we conducted a survey where target population included those students who have

GPA lower than 2.5. Questionnaires were distributed among those students and after which their

responses were statically analyzed to prove our hypothesis.

3
 JOB LOG

Job Performed Performed By

Introduction + Formatting + Questionnaire Ayman Abaid

+Abstract

Survey method (statistical analysis on data Bazaid Khan

individual and combine) + Questionnaire

References + Acknowledgement + Moiz Ahmed

Questionnaire

Literature review + Questionnaire Bilal

Conclusion + recommendation + Questionnaire Aqib Chaudry

Discussion + Survey method + Questionnaire Ali Hamza Khan

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 Table of Contents

Survey Method…………………………………………………………………………………...8

What is a Survey? ………………………………………………………………………..8

Is a Survey Necessary? ….…………………………………………………………….... 8

Initial Decisions......…..…….……..……………………………………………………...9

Survey Format …….……………………………...……………………………………10

Developing a Questionnaire ……………..…..…………………………………………10

Types of Survey Questions ….…………...…………………………………………….10

Writing Questions ……..………………………………………………………………..12

Pre-testing the Questionnaire ……….…………………………………………………..13

Increasing Response Rates …………..………...………………………………………..13

Data Tabulation ……….....…………...…………………………..……………………..13

Calculating Descriptive Statistics ………...……………………………………………..14

Analysis of Results ……………………………………….……………………………..15

Summary ………..……………..………………………….……………………………..16

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Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………......17

Purpose ……..………………………………………………………………..…………..17

Background….………………………………………………………………..……….... 17

GPA.......................…..…….……..…………………………………………….………...18

Mental Health…..…………………………………………….…..………………..……..18

Mental Health and Education……………………………..…..……………………….... 19

Difference between College and University Education………….....…………….……...19

Reasons for Low GPA ………………………………….……………..……….……......20

Factors that affect mental health ………………….……………..………………….…...20

Long-term effect of Mental illness………………….…………...……….….…..………23

Identification of Mental illness………….…………………………………...…..………23

Hesitation to accept Mental illness ………….……………….……………...…..………24

Literature review………….……….………………………………...….…………..….………25

Analysis………….………………………….……….…………...….…………………..………27

Discussion….………………………..…...……….……….…………...…………………..……42

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Conclusion .……………………..………….……………………...…...….……………....……43

Recommendations………………..……...……….………….…….…………...….……………44

References………….……………..………...…….………….……….…………...….…………45

Questionnaire………………….....………...…….………….……….…………...….…………46

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 Introduction

Purpose

Purpose of this report is to highlight issue of mental illness common in students. The main issue

is that sometime students fail to accept that their sleeping or appetite trouble, mood disorder,

stress or headache is due to imbalance between educational and social/family obligations. Main

purpose of this study is to find relationship between low GPA and mental health. Mental health

is affected in a negative way by low GPA and is tested through survey method. This report is

created with an aim to raise awareness about symptoms of mental health, factors contributing in

mental illness and the scale on which mental illness is spread among students. This report also

focuses on complete Ignorance of institutions and educational system in dealing with these

issues.

Background

Students enter in university with hopes, ambitions, dreams, vision which according to them will

make their future bright and clear. Some of them choose their favorite subjects as a major after

college to pursue their dreams. Some students get admission because they are forced by norms of

society to study a particular subject. But the purpose of being in university remains same.

University is a place, which provide higher education with awareness about how to deal

with real world. It prepares you for practical life and gives a glimpse about industrial life. It

helps you to communicate your ideas properly and to be a productive member of society. Also

university education is often treated as source to lead a successful life. It provide a platform to

work with people having different mindset, people which a student cannot meet otherwise.

8
Teachers also have a great impact on students. Students look up to them for career and

educational advice. They are often role models for students. Education as a whole allows you to

improve, challenge and change social structure. Idea of university for students not only involves

getting better education in a positive environment but also getting a bit more independence.

Average age of students who takes admission in University are 18 years or older. At this age

student have a social life, social obligations to fulfill, dreams to pursue and have longing for love

and relationships. They are willing to take risk and to be vulnerable in order to achieve

something.

Alongside expectations from university life, the elements which students get

unexpectedly from university are burden, fierce competition with peers, constant need to avoid

warning and improve or maintain GPA. In effort to attain better GPA many students sacrifice

their sleep, mental and physical health. At first they don’t recognize how a bad grade, an

incomplete project, a warning is going to cause anxiety, depression and headache. But later, even

after one or two semesters they begin to realize that they are trapped in a whirlpool of attending

classes, giving exams, submitting pile of assignments and fulfilling social obligations. They

forget to take care of them selves and spending quality time with loved ones. Often after low

GPA student’s start to question their intelligence. There is this cycle from which a person goes

through after getting low GPA or warning. First they get stressed, and then they start questioning

their potential, which leads to self-criticism and eventually they start-loosing interest in a

particular subject.

9
GPA

GPA stands for grade point average. It is a calculated average of the letter grades you earn in

school following a 0 to 4.0 or 5.0 scale. It is an estimation of overall performance of student per

semester.

Mental Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined mental health as a “state of well-being in

which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of

life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his

community.” There could be many type of mental disorder. But most common mental disorders

are anxiety, Eating disorders, Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder and Mood Disorders.

Mental Health and Education

Mental Health and Education is interconnected with each other. Firstly mental illness of any kind

whether it is depression, anxiety or mood disorder can result in poor performance in education.

Secondly Having Low GPA in university leads to mental illness. Main objective of this report is

to address latter problem

Difference between College and University Education

University education is certainly very different from College education. In our education system

learning in college may involve getting knowledge within prescribed syllabus. Students don’t

have to get different books to study a single topic. Question is exams are also asked only from

10
book. However, in university students are required to consult different books, reach out for other

sources to study a particular topic. So comparing college marks with GPA in university is like

comparing apple to orange. Getting frustrated by comparing achievement in college with

university GPA is very common among students. They get less motivated towards education.

Mostly Fresher’s have high expectation of GPA but when they get GPA, which is not even, near

their expectations they get disheartened. Not only they stress over it but also in order to get it

better they risk their physical and mental health instead of changing their ways to learn.

Reasons for Low GPA

For a person to be fully well being he should take decision on the basis of his/her intellect and

experience. Societal norms, family pressure or any other substance should not cloud his/her point

of view. For a student in our society it is essential for him/her to get better GPA or better job, in

order to prove worthy. In case of better GPA education system has same criteria to judge

students with different abilities. It is wrong to expect that every student who enrolls in a

particular subject is going to get A*. This does not justify student’s procrastination and time

wastage. These factors could be one of reason for low GPA, but not sole reasons. Also a student

who already does not care for making an effort of getting good grade is also not going to stress

over a D or F. Thus saying that a student gets low GPA due to procrastination and gets stresses

over it later could be true on very trivial level.

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Factors that affect mental health

 Feeling of being un-worthy

In a group study people with good GPA are more open to talk about new ideas. This is not

because they are the only intelligent and creative people in a group but because other students

who have comparatively low GPA accept that they their thoughts are not worthy. The element of

surprise is that not only other people believe this, but also they themselves seem to accept that.

So if a student himself is afraid to form an opinion or give a suggestion he is more like to

become low in self-esteem. Sometimes students in order to fit in a group of friends who have

higher GPA feel a need to risk their mental health to be equivalent to their peers.

 Dissatisfaction with GPA

Satisfaction with GPA is also important for mental health. According to equality theory by Stacy

Adams people are more likely to judge their effort by the reward they receive after completing it.

If a student is not satisfied with their GPA, they think their effort does not bear the fruit they

were expecting. They are certainly not going to be at same motivation level. Furthermore, their

inability to seek guidance from teachers, senior or other fellow students will assist them to

remain trap in their own bubble of inferiority complex.

 Judgment of intellect by GPA

Judging intellect of a student by their GPA is main reason for antisocial behavior among

students. Students are more likely to sit in their room for a day or two rather than in a group of

people who don’t consider them equal in potential. Continuous criticism does not help a person

12
in any way neither is pressure. Need for affiliation should not be linked with need for

achievement. One person should not think that he would be more loved if he gets a good Job or

good GPA. This may lead to a mindset where material things are more important than

relationships. Family pressure and judgment on basis of GPA also leads to self-doubt and self

loathing which may lead to suicidal thoughts.

 Prediction of future by GPA

Often bad GPA is linked to low earning jobs or no jobs at all and good GPA is associated with

happy successful career and elite jobs. This mindset also boils up the idea that if a student has

low GPA his/her future is dark. This mindset can have long-term effect on students. These

thoughts can make students pessimistic and can demotivate them. Most of all professional jobs

and range of salary should not be the attributes to define success. Success should not be related

to how rich you get. It should be related to how happy and peaceful a person is. Pessimism may

lead a student to suicidal thoughts, which is a worse state a person could be in.

 Imbalance between health and Work responsibilities

So a student who is in his youth spends his entire university life stressing over bad grades or low

GPA cannot really develop into an individual who is a productive member of society. The reason

for not being a productive member is not bad GPA but, their inability to cope with health and

work issues due to physically and mental illness, which hinder their productivity.

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  Association of Low GPA with incompetency

Rather identifying problem behind low GPA or a bad grade, students are often labeled as

slow learners. They are called names and ridiculed among friends. They are compared

with their siblings or cousins who got better result and demoralized. This does not only

depict behavior of society towards a temporary problem but also the criteria through

which they judge a person. Their low GPA is associated with incompetency, which in

turn lead a student to believe that he is of no use and cannot contribute to the society in

any way. And even if he does not believe that he will be dissolved in self-loathing or

hating society, which makes a person anti social. After not achieving a goal, which they

set for themselves or parents or society sets for them, may lead to depression, anxiety and

even worse suicide

Long-term effect of Mental illness

Also the state of mind in which a person spends his/her youth is also going to impact his/her

personality as an adult. So if being in university makes you less patient, more aggressive,

antisocial or cause any other psychological ailment, these ailments are surely going to embed in

your personality. This can also fall in the category of psychosomatic illness. Psychosomatic is

when a mental factor such as stress or anxiety cause a physical illness such as headache.

Identification of Mental illness

People finding difficulty in communicating their emotions and getting more materialistic can be

contributing factors why mental illness is common. Also the pressure of society to meet a certain

criteria and struggle of a person to achieving it while ignoring their health is also a major factor.

14
There could be many reasons why mental health is affected in negative way. But getting

admission in a University should not be a reason for a student to get mentally ill. Its been very

recent that people around the globe especially in Pakistan has considered mental illness as a type

of illness. Previously it was not even considered as a problem. Thankfully today many people

admit they have symptoms but remain reluctant to admit that these symptoms could be related to

any mental illness. Thus identifying that there is a problem may play important role in its

reduction and elimination.

Hesitation to accept Mental illness

Apart from how a student’s mental health is affected, there is no evidence how university handle

these issues on large scale. Also in Pakistan there are many incidents, which involve student’s

suicide due to burden of education, pressure of expectation and other environmental factors. In

many universities there are counselors who help students to deal with these kinds of problems.

Still this issue is neither completely reduced nor brought to minimal scale. The major issue is

that student does not recognize these issues as symptoms of mental illness. They hesitate to

admit that they have anxiety, mood disorder or depression. The fact that suddenly many students

are admitting these disorders as compared to previous decade is due to their unawareness about

mental health. According to Mental health foundation study women are twice more likely to get

depressed than men. But there has not been any study that female student’s mental health is more

affected by Low GPA than male.

15
 Literature review

The primary goal of this section is to examine the relationship between mental health and low

GPA. Good GPA is important but if it costs a student’s mental health then it should be an area

from which one should keep a safe distance. This fact is backed upon by article “Your Mental

Health is More Important than your Grades” (Huffington Post). This article highlights the

seriousness of studies-related stress. “It’s no joke” notes the author and claims that sharp

increases in severe psychological problems are being reported amongst students every day. The

author labels such stress as ‘severe’, which are not used for describing the kind of stress that’s

needed and leads to better performance (known as eustress). No. This is the kind of stress that

says students can’t find room to breathe and get suicidal thoughts and led them to question their

own abilities and decisions. And yes, such stress does affect academic performance. “To say that

it can disrupt the learning process is a dramatic understatement.” This is true for all ages, from

undergraduates to graduates. Stress does stop you in your tracks. According to the author’s own

survey, most students reveal that their grades do start to get shaky when they aren’t actively

working to combat the ill effects of stress. They weren’t just worried because of academics, but

also because of their work and personal demands. The stress affected their health, relationships

and self-confidence. This study also revealed that treatment and prevention are critical and

engaging in healthy behaviors does make a difference. So in theory, the author does agree with

our hypothesis that lower performances in school does lead to stress and depression and gives

substantial evidence to back that.

One of the reason the issue of mental health is still mystery to many is that students are

very shy to discuss their personal life. They won’t let their family and friends know that they

16
have developed anxiety due to burden of studies. In this way their family and friends can’t help

them even if they want to. This phenomenon is called self-disclosure. Role Of Shyness And

Perceived Social Support In Self- Disclosure Among University Students ( Farwa Batool , Aisha

Zubair ) highlights that those who are low in disclosure are low on social skills . This implies

that students who are shy, they have low communication skills which leads them to social

isolation. This is very alarming from a person who is already suffering from (for e.g.) anxiety is

left alone to deals with their problems, which can also lead to suicidal thoughts. Through out a

student’s career he have to face pressure regarding academia .Academic stress is a type of

performance stress in which people feel pressurized to show high performance, to meet time

targets, and to fulfill high expectations (McGraw, Moore, Fuller, & Bates, 2008). Further,

educational institutions need to work on their environment, the connectedness to which seems to

be hazardous to students’ mental health aspects. This statement is reference from article “Risk

Factors of Health Risk Behaviors in Intermediate Students ”(Tahera Anwar and Iram Fatima).

17
 Analysis

Statistical Analysis

18
 Results

Survey Questions Total Percentage

Age GPA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Yes No Yes No
20 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 19 5 79% 21%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 17 29% 71%
19 Below 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 12 12 50% 50%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 12 12 50% 50%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 15 38% 63%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 16 8 67% 33%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 14 42% 58%
19 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
20 Below 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 15 9 63% 38%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 16 8 67% 33%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
19 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 20 17% 83%
19 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 17 29% 71%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 9 15 38% 63%
19 Below 2.5 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 17 29% 71%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 8 16 33% 67%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 15 9 63% 38%
19 Below 2.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 20 17% 83%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 16 8 67% 33%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 14 10 58% 42%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 18 6 75% 25%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 12 12 50% 50%
20 Below 2.5 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 12 12 50% 50%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 17 7 71% 29%
20 Below 2.5 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 19 21% 79%
21 Below 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 17 7 71% 29%
19 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 15 9 63% 38%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 17 7 71% 29%
20 Below 2.0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 14 10 58% 42%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 15 9 63% 38%
19 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 14 42% 58%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 15 9 63% 38%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 17 29% 71%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 10 14 42% 58%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 14 42% 58%
19 Below 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 16 8 67% 33%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 15 9 63% 38%
22 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 11 13 46% 54%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 14 42% 58%
21 Below 2.5 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
20 Below 2.5 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 18 25% 75%
22 Below 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 17 7 71% 29%
22 Below 2.5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
19 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 19 5 79% 21%
20 Below 2.5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 14 10 58% 42%
21 Below 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 13 11 54% 46%
19 Below 2.5 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 17 29% 71%
22 Below 2.0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 19 5 79% 21%

19
Individual Results

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Your current CGPA is what you expected
before entering university?

24%

Yes
NO
76%

32
 Discussion

Surveys are ordinarily employed in psychological research to gather self-report knowledge of an

individual. A survey can be done through face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews and

written questionnaire. In this report, we conducted the survey through written questionnaire in

which we gave a hypothesis and later on asked some questions based on that hypothesis.

Surveys are usually based on some hypotheses and here in this report our hypothesis is

‘Directional Hypothesis’ which states that low GPA has negatives effect on one’s mental health.

Our questionnaire was based on closed-ended questions in which respondents are given list of

predetermined responses from which to choose their answers. These closed ended questions

helped us to count the frequency of each response. We conducted this survey by spreading hard

copies of our questionnaire in whole campus and student gave their responses. There are 84 %

people who agree that that Low GPA has negative effect on student’s mental health. To highlight

difference between college and university education, students were asked whether their GPA is

what they expected and majority of people denies. According to results low GPA did affect their

mental health. And peer pressure, social isolation , judgment of intellect by GPA are the major

factors that effect mental health

33
 Conclusion

This study identified the relationship between Low GPA and mental health, which makes

hypothesis “Low GPA has negative effect on student’s mental health” acceptable. The statistical

analysis provides a ground evidence for our hypothesis. GPA has a very great importance in a

student’s life but it can only define a student if he let it. Students with low GPA have a lot of

problems in life. They become mentally, emotionally and even financially ill due to their

perspective about GPA. If a student has low GPA the first thing, he will have is the lack of

confidence. He will not be able to talk to anybody with confidence because he starts considering

himself a weak student who is always scared that people will degrade him because of his GPA.

He will have no courage to deal with people. This is a sad reality that in our society a person`s

intelligence is judged by his GPA. If a student has good GPA then he will be considered as a

smart person and if their GPA is low, then unfortunately student’s mental health will be affected.

Parental training is very important factor in mental health. Often a teacher’s degraded attitude

towards a student having low GPA also forces a student to lose interest in that specific course.

Parents and societal pressure plays the role of fuel in fire in destroying mental health. This way

they have no support either from family or from their social circle. Student’s mentality about if

they have a good GPA then they have a good future but if they have a bad GPA their future is in

danger and on high risk is the root cause of mental illness. Students are also socially isolated due

to low GPA. They are deemed unacceptable in their social circle, which leads them to social

anxiety, depression, mood disorder and eating disorder and even suicidal thoughts.

34
 Recommendations

First responsibility lies on the student. He or she must not believe that GPA is measure of

intelligence. They must have a strong opinion that GPA only shows how much consistent and

responsible they are towards their academia. This has no concern with a person’s intelligence

and success. They should not believe that their opinion is not worthy. They need to realize that

Future and success will not depend on GPA. Success and bright future comes up with hard work

and consistency. A person can start doing hard work at any point in life. As we all know “Its

never too late.” They should feel free to get help from teachers, seniors and peers if he or she

finds difficulty in a particular course. They should not hesitate to seek help and treatment if their

mental health keeps on getting worse. People need to realize that consulting a therapist does not

mean that you are a crazy person. Care more about learning rather than achieving good GPA and

avoid using arbitrary measures as method of learning. Adopting health life style can also help to

achieve mental health.

Secondly Parents, guardians and teachers should make sure that students should not

destroy their health either physical or mental in order to maintain a good reputation in front of

them. Parental training is important factor in mental health. Parents should be supportive rather

then being critical. They should avoid imposing their own likes/dislikes on their children.

Universities should address mental health as a serious issue and should take measures to reduce

it.

35
 References

“Your Mental Health is More Important than your Grades”-Huffington Post reterived from

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-lee-costa/your-mental-health-is-mor_b_8357368.html

Education News (November 15, 2011). Pressures to succeed affect student health. Retrieved from:

https://ed.stanford.edu/news/pressures-succeed-affect-student-health.

Eisenberg, Golberstein, Hunt (2009). Mental Health and Academic Success in College.

Retrieved from: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~daneis/papers/MHacademics.pdf

Dr. Lee (2015). Your Mental Health is More Important Than Your Grades. Retrieved from:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-lee-costa/your-mental-health-is-

mor_b_8357368.html

National Association of School Psychologists (2012). Research on the Relationship Between

Mental Health and Academic Achievement.

White (2016). MENTAL Health and Academic Achievement: The effect of Self-

Efficiency.https://www.psychguides.com/guides/mental-health-problem-symptoms-

causes-and-effects/ (2013)

https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/childadvocacy/mental-health-and-academic-

achievement-2-24-12.pdf (2015)

https://cpr.bu.edu/resources/reasonable-accommodations/how-does-mental-illness-interfere-with-

school-performance/ (2015)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278481569_The_Relationship_between_Mental_Healt

h_and_Academic_Achievement_among_University_Students_-_A_Literature_Review

(2017)

36
 Questionnaire

From: Group 7 To: The Indigenous

Students of FAST

Topic: “Scoring a Low GPA Negatively Affects Ones Mental Health”

The following survey is being conducted under supervision of university faculty members for

Psychology class Fall 2018 as part of the final project. The project discusses the effects of low

grades in university on students’ mental health. Any personal information or facts acquired is at

the will of the subject and is solely for the purpose of the project. No judgments will be made

about individual subjects.

Age: ________________ Gender: ____________

Semester: ___________

1. Is your GPA below 2.5?

 Yes

 No

2. Do you agree with the above hypothesis?

 Yes

 No

37
3. Are you satisfied with your GPA?

 Yes

 No

4. Do you think your university cares about the mental health of students?

 Yes

 No

5. Do you think the education system has a policy against students?

 Yes

 No

6. Do you think the education system take any measure to improve mental health of students?

 Yes

 No

7. Do you think GPA matters in social life?

 Yes

 No

8. When you got a warning (or an F) did it lead you to depression?

 Yes

 No

38
9. Did you lose interest in studies after getting a warning (or an F)?

 Yes

 No

10. Do you get frequent headaches or migraines because of your low GPA?

 Yes

 No

11. Was your physical health affected?

 Yes

 No

12. Does your low GPA made your parents worried?

 Yes

 No

13. If yes then does the pressure from your family help in achieving required GPA?

 Yes

 No

14. Do you feel victimized when anyone judges your intellect by GPA?

 Yes

 No

39
15. Do you feel your GPA will judge your professional skills?

 Yes

 No

16. Are you concerned about your future?

 Yes

 No

17. Do you feel pressurized when your friends get relatively better GPA than you?

 Yes

 No

18. Does getting low GPA in more than one semester affects your ambitions?

 Yes

 No

19. Does low GPA demotivates you?

 Yes

 No

20. Does low GPA makes you pessimist?

 Yes

 No

21. Does low GPA make you feel inferior to others?

40
  Yes

 No

22. Do you lose sleep over it?

 Yes

 No

23. Does low GPA affect your mood?

 Yes

 No

24. Do you ever get suicidal thoughts?

 Yes

 No

25. Your current CGPA is what you expected before entering university?

 Yes

 No

41