The role of self-efficacy on feelings of burnout among Flemish school principals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose

Work-related stress is a significant occupational health issue. Stress cannot be viewed separately from the perceptual or interpretive act by the individual. Self-efficacy is a personal characteristic that explains a high proportion of variation in the performance of school principals.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study examines if the COVID-pandemic is related to burnout among school principals. Additionally, the study analyzes if the self-efficacy of school principals plays a mediating role in the impact that the COVID-19 crisis had on their burnout level. To explore this, the authors used survey data of 981 Flemish school principals.

Findings

The findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic is related to feelings of burnout among Flemish school principals. In addition, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between the COVID-19 scale and the four core subscales of burnout: exhaustion, mental distance, emotional impairment and cognitive impairment. No mediating effect of self-efficacy was found for the secondary symptoms of burnout, psychological distress and psychosomatic complaints.

Originality/value

This paper emphasizes the importance of school principal's self-efficacy experiences for crisis management. Implications for school leadership training and support are discussed.

Citation

Bellemans, L., Devos, G., Tuytens, M. and Vekeman, E. (2023), "The role of self-efficacy on feelings of burnout among Flemish school principals during the COVID-19 pandemic", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 61 No. 6, pp. 567-585. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-09-2022-0138