Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5358-3233; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7042-2028; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6962-2770
Abstract
The objectives of this paper were to describe new Extension agent hires’ levels of burnout during their first year on the job, and to determine if there are significant predictors for burnout based on new Extension agent hires’ gender and age. We implemented a longitudinal quantitative research design using the Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure burnout with 58 new Extension agent hires. Survey data were collected monthly throughout the new agents’ first year on the job. New Extension professionals’ burnout levels did increase over the course of their first year on the job. Female agents experienced slightly higher levels of burnout at the onset of their career and every month during their first year compared to males. We recommend that Extension administrators and researchers track burnout levels every three months rather than monthly for an employee’s first five years to understand and possibly predict agent burnout. Results aligned with relevant burnout literature, as well as gender burnout literature, and provide evidence that tracking burnout over time should be important to Extension administrators and researchers.
Recommended Citation
Benge, M.,
Harder, A.,
&
Narine, L. K.
(2025). Investigating the Levels of Burnout of New Extension Agent Hires Throughout Their First Employment Year.
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 13(3), 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/2325-5226.1540
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
