The relationship between the perceived conflict management styles that the school managers applied and the stress levels that the teachers experienced: Istanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa sample

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the perceived conflict management styles that the school directors applied and the stress levels that the teachers experienced. In addition, the perceived conflict management styles that the school directors practiced and the stress levels that the teachers experienced were compared according to the teachers' various demographic features. In 2013-2014 academic year, an "Organizational Conflict Inventory" and 'Demographic Information Form' were applied to 300 teachers working at primary and secondary schools in İstanbul at Gaziosmanpaşa district. The data was analyzed by using SPSS-15 Computer Statistics program. The results revealed that integration conflict management style was used mostly and compromise, avoidance, appeasement and commanding styles were used respectively by the school directors according to the teachers' perception. It was also found that the school directors carried out integration, appeasement, avoidance and compromise conflict strategies mostly on female teachers according to male teachers. On the other hand, female teachers think that the school directors carried out domination and conflict strategies. Furthermore, compared to male teachers, female teachers think that all the conflict strategies that school directors apply make more stress on their behaviors. It was also found that the directors' performed adjudication and dispute management styles that the teachers perceived lead high stress levels on primary school teachers more than secondary school teachers. The teachers who work with the school directors that apply dominated styles according to their perception would have high stress levels.