SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BURNOUT - THE CONCEPT AND ITS COMPONENTS

This study attempted to identify the unique components of burnout amon g school principals using Facet Theory as a theory construction tool. A total of 571 elementary and secondary school principals in Israel co mpleted a questionnaire containing items relating to their feelings ab out themselves, their environment and work. Data were analyzed employi ng Small Space Analysis (SSA). Results indicated that burnout among sc hool principals may be presented in a two-dimensional space, incorpora ting: experiences (weariness or discontent), and the focus (internal o r external) of those experiences. Four components of the burnout pheno menon in principals emerged in this two-dimensional space: exhaustion, self-discontent, aloofness, and deprecation.