Educational Leaders’ Stress: An In-Depth Analysis of the Maltese Context
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62695/XFSA8282Keywords:
Stress, Distress, Eustress, Stressors, Educational LeadersAbstract
This study explores how Maltese Heads of College NetworksHCN), Heads of Schools (HoS), Assistant Heads of Schools (AH), and Heads of Departments (HoD), collectively referred to as Educational Leaders (ELs), define stress and what they consider as professional stressors. Qualitative one-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted, and it was concluded that ELs feel distress when they cannot control a situation and eustress when they feel driven to work harder. ELs explained that stressors they faced came from within and outside the school and from factors like learners, staff members, parents/guardians, unions, curriculum, the Education Department, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes shed light on the fact that ELs need more support and training in their profession and the opportunity to talk about what they are going through to minimise stress.
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