The Emotional Weight of Leadership: Understanding Principals’ Worry

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Abstract

This study explores the experience of worry among elementary school principals in Israel, addressing two key questions: the perceived sources of worry and the strategies used to manage it. Using a qualitative grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 principals, offering in-depth insights. Two main types of worry emerged: worry as responsibility, centered on student safety, emotional well-being, and school functioning; and worry as achievement, focused on meeting expectations and fear of failure. Principals described coping through active problem-solving, seeking support, and creating personal moments of calm. The findings highlight worry as a multifaceted emotional experience, shaped by complex demands and interpreted as both a challenge and a resource.

Author

• Peleg Dor-Haim, Tel Aviv University