The psychological network structure of school principal well-being: The age effect?

This study aimed to utilise psychological network analysis to investigate the inter-structural network of school principal well-being and age differences concerning network estimation, centrality indices, network stability, and network comparison. The sample includes 1274 principals from China. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic network and the impact of age on principal well-being at both general well-being dimensions and the specific item level. It is noted that spiritual well-being, which exhibits the highest value in relation to various centrality measures, underscores the significance of personal fulfilment and a sense of purpose in principals’ lives. The age analysis indicated that emotional well-being could be particularly beneficial for younger principals, while addressing spiritual well-being may be more crucial for mid-aged and mature principals. For senior principals, the emphasis on social well-being might be significant. This research augments both theoretical and practical understanding of principal well-being through the exploration of interactions among various dimensions and items, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge production and intervention tactics in the field. Copyright © 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.