The coping strategies of principals in Victorian schools who have participated in the Northern Metropolitan Region Health and Wellbeing Program 2002-2012. Robert Miller Dip. T. (Prim) SCV Coburg BA ( La Trobe University) Grad. Dip. Ed. Admin. (University of Melbourne) Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education, Educational Management, by course work and minor thesis. November, 2015. Faculty of Education. University of Melbourne. Abstract Principals in schools are facing an ever increasing number of work demands and are experiencing high levels of workload, stress and feelings of lack of support that are leading to negative impacts on their health and wellbeing. This research explores the experiences of a group of Principals from Victorian government schools who participated in a Health and Wellbeing program that provided information and supports to assist them to put in place changes that would have positive impacts on their health and wellbeing. Principals made positive changes to diet and levels of physical activity to support improved health, and their wellbeing was improved mainly by emotional support, especially with colleagues as mentors and coaches, particularly at a local level involving local Networks. Whilst acknowledging that self-care is the responsibility of the individual, principals were clear that a systemic acknowledgement of the issues and appropriate responses by line managers are needed to support principals, and aspirants, to be aware of, recognise and to respond appropriately to the many issues that impact their health and wellbeing. This is an issue that principals want to continue to have highlighted at a local and regional level. There was strong argument for the ongoing provision of a similar program that all principals should be encouraged to attend. Produced on archival quality paper ii Declaration This is to certify that: i the thesis comprises only my original work towards the masters except where indicated in the Preface, ii due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, iii the thesis is less than 24,200 words in length, exclusive of tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Acknowledgements Thank you to the ten principals who were so generous with their time and willingness to be open and share their thoughts on some difficult issues. I acknowledge the support of Victoria Triggs as Director of the Northern Metropolitan Region who encouraged a regional focus on this work and who supported the implementation of the subsequent program. I thank Greg Duthie for his advice and support to me and his professional expertise in establishing an effective regional Health and Wellbeing program for principals. I acknowledge Lawrie Drysdale for his advice and supervision over a number of years supporting me to the point of completion. I especially thank my wife, Robyn Miller, for her unswerving support for the value of the work of this thesis, and for encouraging me to complete even when my own health and wellbeing was impacted. iii Table of Contents GLOSSARY ...............................................................................................................................vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................1 1.1 Background...............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Research Problem...................................................................................................................1 1.3 Significance ...............................................................................................................................2 1.4 Background to the Study ......................................................................................................3 1.5 Methodology .............................................................................................................................3 1.6 Limitations and Delimitations............................................................................................3 1.7 Structure of Thesis..................................................................................................................4 CHAPTER 2 CONTEXT..........................................................................................................6 2.1 Previous unpublished research .........................................................................................6 2.2 The 2001 research defined - “Maintaining Health and Wellbeing for Effective Principalship.”................................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Outcomes of 2001 research................................................................................................. 8 2.3.1 Summary of Outcomes....................................................................................................................8 2.4 Health and Wellbeing Program details............................................................................9 2.5 Other factors of context ..................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 3 LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................... 11 3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Stress and Strain.................................................................................................................. 11 3.3 Causes of Stress and Burnout........................................................................................... 13 3.4. Impact of Stress .................................................................................................................. 18 3.5. Coping ..................................................................................................................................... 22 3.6. Health and Wellbeing ........................................................................................................ 27 CHAPTER 4 METHODOLOGY........................................................................................... 29 Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Research Design ................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Trustworthiness................................................................................................................... 31 4.3 Selection of Participants.................................................................................................... 32 4.4 Interviews............................................................................................................................... 33 4.5 Group size............................................................................................................................... 33 4.6 Research Questions............................................................................................................. 34 4.7 Thematic Analysis................................................................................................................ 36 CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS ...................................................................................................... 37 5.1 What does positive health and wellbeing mean to you?........................................ 37 5.2 What do you do to maintain positive health and wellbeing? ............................... 38 5.3 What aspects of your role as principal impact on your health and wellbeing? ........................................................................................................................................................... 41 5.4 How would you rate the general effectiveness of the Northern Metropolitan Region Principal Health and Wellbeing program? .......................................................... 44 5.5 What was the most effective aspect of the Program for you? ............................. 45 5.6 What changes, if any, did the program cause you to make? ................................ 46 5.7 What if any lasting impact did your participation in the Health and wellbeing Program have for you that continues now? ....................................................................... 47 5.8 Should a Health and Wellbeing program continue to be offered to principals? ........................................................................................................................................................... 49 5.9 If a Health and Wellbeing Program is offered in future, are there any changes that you think should be made to improve its effectiveness?...................................... 50 iv 5.10 Which other programs or activities have you participated in that have made an impact on supporting you to maintain a positive health and wellbeing.? ......... 52 5.11 What other programs, support or activities do you think should be provided to support principals to maintain a positive sense of health and wellbeing? ........ 53 Chapter 6 DISCUSSION...................................................................................................... 57 6.1 Factors impacting health and wellbeing ....................................................................