School Principal Stressors and a Stress Alleviation Strategy Based on Controlled Breathing

School principals experience high levels of stress that hamper their self-efficacy and inhibit their executive control capacities. The main stressors that school principals encounter, their reactions to stress and the influence of controlled breathing on their stress relief were investigated by means of a mixed-methods research approach. With a structured questionnaire, participants’ levels of stress were compared before and after attendance of a workshop based on controlled breathing. Participants’ main stressors, their reaction to stress and the influence of controlled breathing on their stress relief were investigated through individual interviewing. It was found that school principals’ main stressors related to extensive workloads carried out in an environment of resource constraints. The regular practising of controlled breathing resulted in a decrease of the levels of stress experienced with main improvements related to revitalized energy levels, restored clarity of thinking and improved interpersonal relationships. The findings contribute to research on school principals’ main stressors and constructive ways of stress relief within the school environment.