Resilience of school leaders: a systematic review of the literature

Resilience is the ability to cope with and overcome adverse circumstances in order to mature and grow. School principals, due to the multiple stresses they are involved in on a daily basis, acquire resilience skills on a professional level. This article presents a systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA method on resilience in school principals based on a review of 22 articles. Thirteen variables grouped into seven dimensions were analysed. The results show a predominance of studies carried out from psychology, quantitatively and by means of questionnaires. Studies carried out in the formal sphere predominate, especially in the school stages. Positive influencing variables such as mood and having support networks and negative influencing variables such as frustration, anxiety, stress and tension are identified. Good practices such as programmes and practices that foster resilience among principals through coaching, mindfulness and the development of social skills, emotional capacities and coping mechanisms have also been reported. It is possible to conclude that managerial resilience is an important challenge that is gaining importance in recent international research. It provides clues for the design and development of future research in this area.