Stress amongst middle level managers in schools

M.Ed. (Psychology of Education)This research study originated from the belief that teachers in general, and secondary school teachers in particular, are under an inordinate amount of stress brought about largely as a result of their work as teachers and educators. Moving from that basic premise the research unfolded towards exploring at both theoretical and empirical level, the major causes and management of stress in education within a South African educational context. The study starts with a carefully structured Statement of the Problem, which provides valid reasons why this research is needed (i.e. the motivation for this study), it lists the key areas of concern under 'specific statement of problem', the details regarding the purpose and plan are made clear and finally the method of research is stated. The point is made in this chapter that the basic motive of this research study is to help teachers understand and manage stress in a far more efficient we. The second chapter introduces the challenges of Defining Stress and attempts to appraise several current definitions and approaches to this problem. After a consideration of the now classical General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), some pertinent reactions to stress are listed, the experience of stress is discussed and the three current approaches, or definitions of stress, namely: response-based, stimulus-based and interaction, are defined and debated