Abstract:
The main objective of this research was to establish
the capaciousness of stress experienced by school
managers (school principals) . The research conducted
was based on a literature survey that was aimed at
establishing what research has indeed been done in the
field of stress in the workplace and in particular the
stress experienced by school managers (school principals)
. Due to extent of its incidents and the negative
result of undesirable stress, stress has become a very
topical subject that is frequently debated and written
about. It is therefore not strange that stress has
been typified as the killer disease .
Numerous, but comprehensive definitions of stress are
to be found in literature . Reference is also made to
numerous models of stress. The prevalent incidence of
stress necessitates the implementation of certain
coping strategies to counter the negative influence of
stress on the mental and physical health of the school
manager (school principal). However, in some
instances it becomes necessary to implement stress in
a positive manner in order to function optimally .
Twenty two school managers (school principals) were
engaged in semi-structured interviews in an effort to
empirically substantiate the presence and the incidence
of stress and organizational stress, as revealed by
numerous sources of literature .
Furthermore, it is of scientific importance to establish
to what degree theory and practice are linked, based on the literature survey and the empirical
research that have been conducted. The aforementioned
research has indeed revealed certain interesting
features about the incidence and coping strategies as
regards stress experienced by school managers (school
principals) . Based on these outcomes certain practical
recommendations are made to school managers on how
stress could be implemented in a positive manner to
ensure the effective management of their schools. In
the final analyses certain recommendations are made as
regards possible future research prospects.
