JOB BURNOUT AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG EXTENSION OFFICERS IN NORTH WEST PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

A simple random sampling technique was used to select 40 extension officers to examine the incidence of job burnout and coping strategies in North West Province, South Africa. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and multiple regression analysis. The results show that majority of the extension officers were male (52.5%) with the mean age of 42.5 years, married (72.5%) and 82.5% were Christians. Eighty-five percent of the extension officer had Diploma as their educational qualification and a mean of 14 years as working experience. The result revealed that extension officers experiences 29 out of the listed 44 job burnout symptoms, which include cynicism/negativism (1.87) agitation (1.85) accident proneness (1.75) and loss of patience (1.72). The most prominent coping strategies as indicated by extension officers were maintaining an active personal social life outside of work (2.50), maintaining healthy relationship with co-workers (2.47), development of structural and personal support system (2.45) and maintaining healthy relationship with superior officers (2.47). Significant determinants of job burnout were gender (t = 2.46), educational level(t = -3.02), studying for higher degree (t = -2.30) and number of farmers covered (t = -2.20). The study recommends that extension officers should be exposed to training and techniques to cope with job burnout.