Determinants and prevalence of occupational stress among Zimbabwean school administrators Available to Purchase

A survey of the literature will undoubtedly show that the last two decades have witnessed a proliferation of research studies on occupational stress among educational personnel, and that interest in this area has not abated. Unfortunately, little is known about occupational stress in many developing societies because a preponderance of these studies have been carried out in industrialized and developed societies where conditions may be dissimilar to those obtaining in developing societies. Therefore, the current study sought to contribute to a better understanding of occupational stress in teaching by investigating the sources, incidence and intensity of administrative stress among headteachers in Zimbabwe. The results of a survey of a sample of 95 headteachers showed that the sample experienced relatively high levels of administrative stress compared with previous findings. In addition, the study revealed several demographic characteristics and school variables which influenced the respondents’ perceptions of situations which cause stress. Finally, implications of the study were discussed in terms of policy, preparation of school administrators, school management and future research.