Directors' stress in day care centers : related factors and coping strategies
Year of publication
2020
Authors
Elomaa, Mailis; Pakarinen, Eija; Eskelä-Haapanen, Sirpa; Halttunen, Leena; Von Suchodoletz, Antje; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to explore what causes stress to day care center directors and what their coping strategies are. In addition, the study examined the extent to which directors experience work-related stress and burnout, and the factors associated with their work-related stress, engagement and recovery from work. Design/methodology/approach A mixed method approach was used. Findings The results showed that the main sources of directors' stress were connected to leading oneself, leading others, managing change and lack of social support. Moreover, the main coping strategies with stress were leading oneself, social support and leading others. In addition, both pre- and in-service leadership training played a significant role in the experience of stress. The nature of factors causing stress and coping strategies with stress may imply that directors need further support in self-management and developing their internal competences. Research limitations/implications The present study has limitations that need to be considered when making generalizations. First, a small sample size limits the generalization of the findings. Second, the study relied solely on one source of information, i.e. directors' self-reports. Third, data were collected only at one time point at the end of the year when stress levels might have accumulated. Finally, the study has been done in the Finnish educational context where day care center directors' job description varies depending on municipality. Practical implications The findings provide important information about the causes of directors' work-related stress as well as their coping strategies and about factors that might be related to those. Social implications Because directors' stress impact on children’s development and well-being through teachers' well-being, it is crucial to pay attention on directors' well-being and provide more support for them. Originality/value The current study is among the few ones focusing on the stress of directors at early childhood education (ECE) settings.
Show moreOrganizations and authors
University of Jyväskylä
Elomaa Mailis
Publication type
Publication format
Article
Parent publication type
Journal
Article type
Original article
Audience
ScientificPeer-reviewed
Peer-ReviewedMINEDU's publication type classification code
A1 Journal article (refereed), original researchPublication channel information
Publisher
Volume
34
Issue
6
Pages
1079-1091
ISSN
Publication forum
Publication forum level
1
Open access
Open access in the publisher’s service
No
Self-archived
Yes
Other information
Fields of science
Psychology; Educational sciences
Keywords
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Publication country
United Kingdom
Internationality of the publisher
International
Language
English
International co-publication
Yes
Co-publication with a company
No
DOI
10.1108/IJEM-10-2019-0383
The publication is included in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Publication data collection
Yes