Title: Stressors and stress coping strategies of UAE school leaders

Authors: Zeina Hojeij; Ali Ibrahim; Sandra Baroudi

Addresses: Zayed University, Abu-Dhabi, Dubai, UAE ' United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE ' Zayed University, Abu-Dhabi, Dubai, UAE

Abstract: Through exploratory quantitative research, 120 school leaders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were found to have a moderate level of stress. School leaders have regularly sought social support and focused on the problem as strategies to cope with stress. There was no difference in the means of stress related to the leaders' gender, marital status, age, years of experience, or school size and level. However, interpersonal relations and administrative responsibilities made the largest contribution to the prediction of coping strategies. Considering the quick changes aimed at by the national educational reform, leaders found themselves unaware of their new job descriptions and expectations. Leaders struggled with a combination of little autonomy, limited resources, bureaucracy and intensification, and increased responsibilities. Self-efficacy and self-motivation indicated perseverance in managing stress. School leaders, especially during a reform, face the burden of role expectations and administrative constraints due to changing requirements from authorities.

Keywords: school principals; stress at work; coping strategies; administrative stress index; ways of coping checklist-revised.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.131218

International Journal of Management in Education, 2023 Vol.17 No.4, pp.339 - 360

Received: 19 Mar 2022
Accepted: 22 Aug 2022
Published online: 01 Jun 2023 *

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