Isolation and the effect towards stress among the head teachers in three districts in Johor

Abstract

The objectives of this study is to determine whether the head teachers from the districts of Kota Tinggi, Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang experience the isolation symptom in the early phase appointed to the position. This case study also determined strategies taken by the head teachers to overcome it and the isolation impacts towards their stress. This study uses the mixed-method approach through the used of questionnaires and open-ended questions in data collection phase. The questionnaire used was based on modified version of UCLA Loneliness Scale created by Russell et. al. (1978), “Stress at work questionnaire” by Queensland Health and “NSAD Stress Questionnaire” by “The International Stress Management Association UK”. 110 head teachers have participated as respondents for this study. The data collected were then analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 to find out whether they felt isolated and stress. The qualitative data were collected by open-ended questions included in the questionnaire. The qualitative data then were grouped and coded before being analyzed manually using simple statistic in order to strategies taken by the head teachers to overcome it and the recommendation to the future school leaders in managing the isolation symptom. Research findings from quantitative analysis revealed that the level of isolation among the head teachers from the three districts is low. However, there are two items of isolation recorded medium mean scores. On the other hand, qualitative data analysis produced few strategies recommended by the head teachers participated that can be used to overcome the isolation and the recommendation for the future school leaders