ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION ON EMPLOYEES’ TURNOVER INTENTION AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The problem of persistent employee turnover in Nigerian higher institutions has raised concerns about workforce stability, making it crucial to understand the role of emotional exhaustion in predicting turnover intention. This study examined the impact of emotional exhaustion on employees’ turnover intention among public universities in Katsina State, Nigeria, drawing on Maslach’s Burnout Theory and the Social Exchange Theory (SET) as guiding frameworks. The target population comprised 6,266 employees across selected public universities, out of which a sample size of 384 was determined using Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling table. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to ensure the inclusion of both academic and non-academic staff. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results revealed a strong and significant positive effect of emotional exhaustion on employees’ turnover intention (β = 0.679, T = 24.642, p = 0.000). This indicates that employees who experience higher levels of emotional exhaustion are more likely to consider leaving their institutions. The findings validate Maslach’s assertion that emotional exhaustion is the core component of burnout, while also supporting SET’s principle that unfavorable employee–employer exchanges foster withdrawal behavior. The study concludes that emotional exhaustion is a critical predictor of turnover intention among employees in public universities. It recommends workload management, supportive leadership, recognition and reward systems, and the adoption of wellness programs to mitigate emotional exhaustion and reduce turnover. Theoretically, the study extends burnout and social exchange theories in the Nigerian higher education context, while practically it underscores the need for policies that prioritize employee well-being and retention.