ABSTRACT
A major study examined stress in headteachers in 1987/8 in the UK (Cooper and Kelly 1993).
Demographic data was collected along with measures of job satisfaction, mental health, job stressors and coping strategies. As one element of personal characteristics heads were assessed as showing type A or type B behaviour (Friedman and Rosenman 1974). Type A is characterised by ‘extremes of competitiveness, striving for achievement, aggressiveness, haste, impatience, restlessness, hyperalertness, explosiveness of speech, tenseness of facial muscles and feelings of being under pressure all of the time and under the challenge of responsibility’ (p. 134). Type B is other than type A: they are mutually exclusive.Coping strategies were categorised as one of three types:
• direct – involve yourself in work, deal directly with the stressful events and re-interpret the event in a more positive light
• diversionary – take exercise, pursue outside interests • withdrawal – do nothing, avoid stressful situations.
