Authors :
Aden Ali Abdi, Brinda Bazeley Kharbirymbai
Volume/Issue :
Volume 5 - 2020, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://goo.gl/DF9R4u
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/2UpqfDn
Abstract :
The tasks of public-school leaders are
diverse, evolving and challenging. It is important to
understand how the principals and head teachers cope
with stressors in their day-to-day business of running
schools. Since the phenomenon of coping strategies
among school principals and head teachers has received
little attention in Kenya, this study sought to
qualitatively explore the coping strategies used by
principals of secondary schools and head teachers of
primary schools when facing administrative stressors in
their working conditions. Eleven principals and head
teachers were purposively sampled through maximal
variation sampling. Data were collected through semi-
structured, face-to-face interviews. Each interview was
audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and coded according
to the constant comparative method of data analysis.
Results showed that principals and head teachers used
four problem-focused strategies and two emotion-
focused strategies as the primary coping approaches to
various problems they encountered in the course of
duty. This study presents practical information as well
as expands the theoretical understanding of
administrative coping strategies among principals and
head teachers. The study also implies that the
administrative problems for which principals and head
teachers sought coping strategies are amenable to policy
changes that will support the school leaders to cope with
stressors beyond their personal and institutional coping
resources.
Keywords :
Coping Strategies, Working Conditions, Stress, Principals, Head Teachers.
The tasks of public-school leaders are
diverse, evolving and challenging. It is important to
understand how the principals and head teachers cope
with stressors in their day-to-day business of running
schools. Since the phenomenon of coping strategies
among school principals and head teachers has received
little attention in Kenya, this study sought to
qualitatively explore the coping strategies used by
principals of secondary schools and head teachers of
primary schools when facing administrative stressors in
their working conditions. Eleven principals and head
teachers were purposively sampled through maximal
variation sampling. Data were collected through semi-
structured, face-to-face interviews. Each interview was
audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and coded according
to the constant comparative method of data analysis.
Results showed that principals and head teachers used
four problem-focused strategies and two emotion-
focused strategies as the primary coping approaches to
various problems they encountered in the course of
duty. This study presents practical information as well
as expands the theoretical understanding of
administrative coping strategies among principals and
head teachers. The study also implies that the
administrative problems for which principals and head
teachers sought coping strategies are amenable to policy
changes that will support the school leaders to cope with
stressors beyond their personal and institutional coping
resources.
Keywords :
Coping Strategies, Working Conditions, Stress, Principals, Head Teachers.
