Self-Perceptions of Iowa Public School Superintendents toward Occupational Stress

Abstract

The problem. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the frequency and intensity of occupational sources of stress as perceived by Iowa public school superintendents, (2) the relationship between perceived occupational sources of stress and demographic variables, and (3) stress management techniques used by superintendents. Procedure. The modified Administrative Stress Index was mailed on October 14, 1985, to forty randomly selected Iowa public school superintendents who represented four school district enrollment categories. Respondents identified the frequency and intensity of thirty-five stressors on two separate five-point Likert-type scales and provided pertinent demographic information. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Conclusion. Results from the study show a difference in the total mean intensity of stressors among age groups of superintendents. There was no difference in the mean frequency of stressors among age groups. There was no difference in the mean frequency or the mean intensity of stressors by five categorical stress factors, superintendency roles, college degree levels, district sizes, district descriptors, number of years in the present position, total number of years in administration, number of hours worked per week, number of hours of physical exercise per week, and the level of physical health. Of the twenty-three hypotheses in the study, all were accepted at the .05 level of significance with the exception of one. Recommendations. Research might determine the duration of the stressors, correlation between stress and additional demographic variables, and contributing factors related to high stress levels among school superintendents.