The Principal at Risk: Stress and Organizing Mindfulness in the School Context

• Main Authors: Pierluigi Diotaiuti, Stefania Mancone, Fernando Bellizzi, Giuseppe Valente
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: school principal; chronic stress; work discomfort; organizing mindfulness; health
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6318

<i>Background:</i> In recent years the role of school principals is becoming increasingly complex and responsible. <i>Methods:</i> This study was voluntarily attended by 419 Italian school principals who were administered the Psychological Stress Measurement (MSP), Mindfulness Organizing Scale (MOS), Polychronic-Monochronic Tendency Scale (PMTS), and the Scale of Emotions at Work (SEW). <i>Results:</i> The study has produced a path analysis model in which the relationships between the main predictors of principals’ work discomfort were explained. The effect of depressive anxiety on perceived discomfort (ß = 0.517) found a protective mediator in the mindfulness component that recognizes the sharing as a fundamental operational tool (ß = −0.206), while an increasing sense of effort and confusion could significantly amplify the experience of psychological discomfort associated with the exercise of school leadership (ß = 0.254). <i>Conclusions:</i> The model developed in this study suggests that focusing on organizing mindfulness can be a valuable guideline for interventions.