Uppeldi og menntun - 01.07.2015, Page 56

UPPELDI OG MENNTUN/ICELANDIC JOURNAL OF EDUCATION 24(2) 201556
GRUNN- OG LEIKSKÓLASTJÓRAR Á ÍSLANDI – KULNUN Í STARFI ?
The findings revealed a significant difference in burnout among compulsory school
principals according to types of further education; that is, principals with master’s
level education in other fields than school management, showed less signs of burnout
than principals master’s level education in other fields, or bachelor’s education. Also,
a significant difference was found amongst compulsory school principals based on
geographical location; that is, personal burnout symptoms were more frequent out-
side the Reykjavík capital area.
This study shows considerable burnout symptoms among compulsory and pre-
school principals. It also indicates that symptoms of burnout are more common
among preschool principals on all three dimensions: the personal dimension, work
dimension, and client dimension. These findings have to be studied more extensively,
but the working environment of preschool principals seems to create more stress than
is desired. Also, the findings suggest that it is of considerable importance for local
educational authorities to create support mechanisms for school principals in order to
prevent occupational burnout.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Gerdur Olina Steinthorsdottir (gerdurolina@gmail.com) is a school administrator
in elementary school in Grundarfjörður. She completed her B.Ed. degree in ele-
mentary education from the Iceland University of Education in 2004 and an M.Ed.
degree in educational administration from the University of Iceland in 2014.
Amalia Bjornsdottir (amaliabj@hi.is) is an associate professor at the School of Educa-
tion, University of Iceland. She completed a B.A. degree in psychology from the Uni-
versity of Iceland in 1990, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma 1996. Her
major research interests are in the areas of measurement and testing (reading and
language development) and influences of social factors on schools.
Borkur Hansen (borkur@hi.is) is a professor at the School of Education, University of
Iceland. He finished a B.A. in education and psychology from the University of Ice-
land in 1982 and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta in 1987. His major research
interests are in the areas of leadership, school management, school development and
educational governance.