Sowing seeds of flourishing: The mediating role of trust in the impact of resilience on school principals across career stages

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the roles of principal resilience (psychological, social and spiritual) and trust in colleagues in predicting the flourishing of school principals, considering different career stages.

Design/methodology/approach: Utilising multigroup structural equation modelling and mediation analysis, data were collected from a sample of 1,274 school principals in China. The study investigates the direct impact of resilience on flourishing and the mediating role of trust in colleagues, with a focus on variations across different career stages. 

Findings: The findings reveal that all aspects of a principal’s resilience significantly impact their flourishing, with trust serving as a partial mediator. Notably, the influence of spiritual resilience on flourishing is significant only for principals in the later stages of their careers. 

Originality/value: This research contributes to the expanding body of literature on educational leadership by highlighting the importance of resilience and trust in fostering principal flourishing. The insights gained offer valuable knowledge for developing support strategies to enhance the flourishing experiences of school principals throughout their careers. Copyright © 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)94-108
JournalJournal of Educational Administration
Volume63
Issue number1
Early online date2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025

Citation

Yu, D., Chen, J., & Kouhsari, M. (2025). Sowing seeds of flourishing: The mediating role of trust in the impact of resilience on school principals across career stages. Journal of Educational Administration, 63(1), 94-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-06-2024-0187

Keywords

  • Flourishing
  • Psychological resilience
  • Social resilience
  • Spiritual resilience
  • Trust

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