Emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction among Norwegian school principals: relations with perceived job demands and job resources

The purpose of this study was to explore school principals’ perceptions of job-related demands and resources and how perceived job demands and job resources are related to job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, and motivation to leave the position as a school principal. A total of 340 principals participated in the study. Data were analyzed by means of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses as well as SEM analysis using the AMOS 25 program. Factor analyses revealed nine potential and moderately correlated job demands and seven potential and moderately correlated job resources. The SEM analyses revealed that only four of the potential demands and resources were significantly associated with job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, or motivation to quit. The associations between (a) job demands and job resources and (b) motivation to quit were fully mediated through job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion.