Occupational Stress among Secondary School Heads: A Gender Based Comparative Study

Ishtiaq Hussain,Qaiser Suleman,Nabi Bux Jumani

doi:10.22555/joeed.v5i2.2363

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine and compare the occupational stress of male and female secondary-school-heads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. All the male and female secondary school heads working in pubic secondary schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa constituted the population of the study. A total of 402 secondary school heads were selected as sample through multistage sampling technique in which 260 were males and 142 were females. Descriptive and quantitative survey research design was used. To seek the responses from the participants, a standardized tool i.e., “Occupational Stress Index (OSI)” was used. For statistical analysis, proper descriptive statistics i.e., mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics i.e., independent samples t-test were employed through SPSS. The findings revealed that both male and female secondary school heads were found occupationally stressful with respect to role overload, role conflict, strenuous working condition, unreasonable group &amp; political pressure, under participation, and unprofitability. Comparatively, there was no significant difference between the overall occupational stress of male and female secondary school heads. Based on findings, it was recommended that Elementary &amp; Secondary Education Department should have a collaboration with policymakers to develop comprehensive strategies for stress reduction for secondary school heads so that they may perform their duties effectively.Keywords: comparative study, gender based study, occupational stress, secondary school heads

Highlights

Effective leadership has long been considered imperative to ensure successful performance of schools by introducing a stimulative environment, providing adequate resources, and creating good relations with peers and students (Kythreotis, Pashiaridis, & Kyriakides, 2010)
The total sample comprised of 402 secondary school heads (Male n=260; Female n=142) selected from 534 government secondary schools located in the sample districts
Proper descriptive statistics i.e., mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics i.e., independent samples t-test were employed through SPSS

Summary

Introduction

Effective leadership has long been considered imperative to ensure successful performance of schools by introducing a stimulative environment, providing adequate resources, and creating good relations with peers and students (Kythreotis, Pashiaridis, & Kyriakides, 2010). It is imperative to modify and improve the performance of the school’s head and to recognize specific leadership behaviors and practices that have positive effects on institutional as well as students’ performance (Pashiardis, 2011). Effective leadership is widely accepted as being a fundamental element of an organization and playing a vital role in ensuring individual prosperity and organizational productivity. An organization cannot acquire success and leaders are unable to perform their duties effectively until they are satisfied and secured in their workplace. Occupational stress of individuals is the most dominant and leading variable as it is directly responsible for unsatisfactory performance

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Discussion

Conclusion