Exploring the Sources of Stress Among Public School Principals: A Comparative Study of Global and Indonesian Perspectives
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the sources of stress among public school principals in Bogor Regency, Indonesia. Using a qualitative approach, four principals from junior and senior high schools were interviewed. The findings indicate that significant stressors include interpersonal conflicts with senior teachers and parents, resource shortages especially financial constraints, and high demands from stakeholders for academic and non-academic achievements. Additional stressors specific to the Indonesian context are pressures from pseudo-journalists, the ambiguity of funding regulations, the implementation of the zoning system in student admissions, and mandatory performance evaluations. The study emphasizes the need for policy reforms to provide clearer guidelines, improve financial support, and offer conflict management training. Addressing these stressors is crucial for enhancing principal well-being and promoting effective school leadership. Future research should explore tailored solutions for these unique challenges in Indonesian public schools.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Alasomuka, A. V. (2019). Job stress management among secondary schoolprincipals in Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research inEducation, 12(1), 164–189
Belina, A. (2023). Semi-structured interviewing as a tool for understanding informal civil society. Voluntary Sector Review, 14(2), 331-347.
Campbell, S., Greenwood, M., & Prior, S. (2020). Purposeful sampling: Complex or simple? Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(8), 652–661.
Denecker, C. (2019). School principals’ work stress in an eraof new education governance. Swiss Journal of Sociology,45(3), 447–466
Elomaa, M., Eskelä-Haapanen, S., Pakarinen, E., Halttunen, L., & Lerkkanen, M. K. (2023). Work-related stress of elementaryschool principals in Finland: Coping strategies and support. Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 51(4),868–888.
Fields, Lynette J. (2005). Patterns of stress and coping mechanisms for novice school administrators. Essays in Education, 14(1), 8.
Griffith, J. (2004). Relation of principal transformational leadership to school staff job satisfaction, staff turnover, and school performance. Journal of Educational Administration, 42(3), 333–356.
Hancock, D. R., Müller, U., Stricker, T., Wang, C., Lee, S., & Hachen, J. (2019). Causes of stress and strategies formanaging stress among German and US principals. Research in Comparative and International Education,14(2), 201–214
Igharo, K. O. (2013). Stress: Effects on school leadership and its management. International Researcher, 2(1),102–115.
Izzati, L. N., Anif, S., & Fuadi, D. (2023). Stressor and Coping with Stress on Bilingual Madrasah Aliyah Teachers in Sidoarjo. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 6(1), 199-206.
Kaufman, J. A. (2019). Stress and coping among public school principals in a Midwest metropolitan sample. SAGE Open, 9(1).
Mahfouz, J. (2018). Principals and stress: Few coping strategies for abundant stressors. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 1–19.
Markow D, Macia L, Lee H (2013) The metlife survey of the american teacher: Challenges for school leadership. Metlife.
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533-544.
Priester, L. (2005). High school principals’ perspectives of job stressors that influence job satisfaction [Ph.D.Thesis, Walden University].
Putri, S. T., & Panjaitan, B. S. (2023). Pertanggungjawaban kepala sekolah terhadap perbuatan korupsi dana BOS. UNES Law Review, 6(2), 7036–7046
Samina, S., Muhammad, T., Arif, I., & Alam, M. (2021). Effects of external sources of stress on school head teachers and their management practices. Pakistan Social Sciences Review, 5(1), 1096–1106.
Septiawan, B. (2018). Analisa faktor penyebab stres dan manajemen stres kepala SMA bahrul maghfrioh Malang. Jurnal al-Hikmah, 6(1), 36–45.
Sogunro, O. A. (2012). Stress in school administration: Coping tips for principals. Journal of School Leadership, 22(3), 664–700.
Sumintono, B., Sheyoputri, E. Y. A., Jiang, N., Misbach, I. H., & Jumintono. (2015). Becoming a principal in Indonesia: Possibility, pitfalls and potential. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 35(3), 342–352.
Tahir, L. M., Khan, A., Musah, M. B., Ahmad, R., Daud, K., Al-Hudawi, S. H. V., Musta’Amal, A. H., & Talib, R. (2018). Administrative stressors and Islamic coping strategies among muslim primary principals in Malaysia: A mixed method study. Community Mental Health Journal, 54(5), 649–663.
Ulfiah, U., Nurannisa, A., & Firdausi, F. (2022). Stress and itsimpact on principal performance: An overview of education management. AL-TANZIM: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(1), 295–304.
Wells, C. M., & Klocko, B. A. (2018). Principal well-being and resilience: Mindfulness as a means to that end. NASSP Bulletin, 102(2), 161–173
Whitaker, K. S. (1996). Exploring causes of principal burnout. Journal of Educational Administration, 34(1), 60–71.
Widyastuti, R. T. (2020). Dampak pemberlakuan sistem zonasi terhadap mutu. EDUSAINTEK: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Dan Teknologi, 7(1), 11–19.