Primary school principals ' job satisfaction and occupational stress

Merike Darmody · Emer Smyth

163 citations0/0 files storedInternational Journal of Educational Management

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Stress and Burnout Research School Leadership and Teacher Performance Occupational Health and Burnout

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors associated with occupational stress and job satisfaction among Irish primary school principals. A principal’s job has become increasingly demanding and complex in recent decades. However, there is little current research into their levels of stress and job satisfaction, particularly based on nationally representative data. In order to understand how principals perceive their job and how best to support them, new insights into factors contributing to job satisfaction and stress of school principals are warranted. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on an analysis of Growing up in Ireland data, a national representative study of nine-year-old children in Ireland. In order to explore the simultaneous impact of individual and school factors on stress and job satisfaction of principals in Irish primary schools, multivariate analysis was used. Analyses in this paper are based on responses from principals in 898 schools. Findings – The results of the study indicate that a significant number of primary school principals in Ireland are not very satisfied and feel stressed about their job. Regression analysis revealed that job satisfaction and occupational stress were related to a complex set of personal characteristics, working conditions, school context and teacher climate. Research limitations/implications – The data are limited to primary school principals. However, this is in itself an advantage since it allows for greater insights into variation across principals in job satisfaction and stress, holding the effect of school level constant. Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind in the Irish context that explores the simultaneous effect of a number of factors on school principals’ stress and job satisfaction.

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References

1976The nature and causes of job satisfaction 2001The job satisfaction-job performance relationship: A qualitative and quantitative review.1967Work and the Nature of Man.2003KEEPING GOOD TEACHERS: WHY IT MATTERS, WHAT LEADERS CAN DO 2012How Context Matters in High-Need Schools: The Effects of Teachers’ Working Conditions on Their Professional Satisfaction and Their Students’ Achievement 2011Principal–Teacher Interactions 2001Developing Principals as Instructional Leaders 1964Sex differences in job satisfaction.

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