Stress-related factors influencing secondary school administrators in Manila and their coping techniques / Araceli T. Bondoc. 6

Thesis (M.A.) -- Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 1999.;A thesis presented to the faculty of Graduate School of Arts, Sciences and Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in School Principalship. 56

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ABSTRACT Studies on the Twentieth century disease (stress) are necessary since it is a factor that affects one's performance and productivity. In this study, the researcher aims to identify the different job stressor and their concomitant effects on the individual. The socio-demographic profile of the respondents were gathered to be able to determine if they have significant relationship with the common causes and effects of stress in influencing school administrators. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What is the socio-demographic profile of the respondents in terms of age, gender, educational attainment, length of service, job position and marital status? 2. What are the stress-related factors influencing the respondents in terms of the following dimensions: demands from superiors, political and societal demands, organizational demands and personal and family demands? 3. To what extent do the administrator-respondents experience stress? 4. Is there a significant relationship between the socio-demographic variables and stress dimensions? 5. Is there a significant relationship between the socio-demographic variables and the physiological, psychological and behavioral effects of stress? 6. What coping techniques do the administrator-respondents utilize to overcome stress? The research study made use of the descriptive survey analysis and the main instrument used was Stress-Audit questionnaire by Lyle Miller, et al. Some of the choices were revised to suit the purpose of the study. The data gathered were tabulated manually and were statistically treated using percentage, weighted mean, and chi-square. The findings show that most of the respondents are in their middle life, mostly female and with post graduate units. Majority of them are department heads who have been in the service for more than twenty years and mostly married people. Demands from superiors or higher-ups and organizational demands which includes staff, teachers, students and parents showed that the respondents were stressful with 2.62 and 2.79 means respectively. Political, societal, personal and family demands make the respondents moderately stressful. As to the extent of stress experienced by the school administrators, it was found out to be moderately low. There was significant relationship between four socio-demographic variables and stress dimensions and effects of stress. The coping techniques help the respondents in sustaining low level of stress. Due to the respondents' high educational attainment and tenure, they are able to perform effectively and efficiently. They feel stressful but their coping techniques help them maintain their composure as effective leaders of their respective schools. To avoid much stress coming from the different stress dimensions, the researcher recommends that the respondents should learn to unwind or give themselves a break once in a while and enjoy the beauty of life. Likewise, they should also learn to practice daily simple exercises to keep them physically, mentally and behaviorally fit to be able to perform better and accomplish more. A division-wide study should be also conducted to validate the results of the present study.

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