Stress, coping strategies and resources of early childhood education leaders during the COVID-19-pandemic in Finland, Germany and Israel

Kirsi-Marja Elina Heikkinen, Elina Fonsén, Lauri Heikonen, Raisa Ahtiainen, Emanuel Tamir, Petra Strehmel

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli kirjassa/raportissa/konferenssijulkaisussaKirjan luku tai artikkeliTieteellinenvertaisarvioitu

Abstrakti

The exceptional circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 caused unexpected challenges for the leaders in Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres. The range of measures implemented for preventing the infection from spreading reduced opportunities for face-to-face communication and changed the form of professional cooperation. All that has affected the working conditions and work well-being of the leaders. In this article we examine the ECE centre leaders' experiences regarding stress, their coping strategies and coping resources according to the Lazarus & Folkman (1984) stress model during the COVID-19-pandemic in Finland, Germany and Israel. The aim is to understand leaders' work performance in a crisis situation in these three different societies and to provide information that support leadership in practice as well as the future training of leaders to make them more prepared to lead rapid changes. Further, the findings aim at supporting ECE centres in becoming more resilient to face the challenges of post covid time and future crises (e.g., climate change). This article examines the topic from the perspective of case studies from three countries and combines these findings with differences and similarities as lessons learned. The data are ECE centre leaders’ interviews from Finland (N=23), Germany (N=35) and Israel (N=19). The data were analyzed by employing the Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) model of stress and coping. The findings indicate that communication and emotional support of colleagues and superiors are essential in supporting the well-being of ECE professionals.
Alkuperäiskielienglanti
OtsikkoEarly Childhood Education Leadership in Times of Crisis : International Studies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
ToimittajatElina Fonsén, Raisa Ahtiainen, Kirsi-Marja Heikkinen, Lauri Heikonen, Petra Strehmel, Emanuel Tamir
Sivumäärä18
KustantajaVerlag Barbara Budrich
Julkaisupäivämaalisk. 2023
Painos1
Sivut229-246
ISBN (painettu)978-3-8474-2683-7
ISBN (elektroninen)978-3-8474-1855-9
DOI - pysyväislinkit
TilaJulkaistu - maalisk. 2023
OKM-julkaisutyyppiA3 Kirjan tai muun kokoomateoksen osa

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