Work stress research has traditionally been limited to industrialized nations and urban settings, with a paucity of studies that have focused on workers in rural contexts and/or in developing economies.This study examined the applicability of the Job Demands–Resources Model of burnout among a sample of Indian rural development workers (N=194). Self–administered surveys measuring job demands, job resources, burnout, psychological distress and job satisfaction were distributed to participants. Job demands was the significant main variable accounting for exhaustion whereas control and rewards predominantly accounted for cynicism and job satisfaction respectively. Both demands and rewards were equally important in accounting for levels of psychological distress. Significant interaction effects were also found between job demands and job resources, and several outcome variables.The practical management implication is to enhance worker well–being by either reducing work demands or increasing job resources, especially levels of control and rewards. Focus should be on women and older workers who are particularly vulnerable to exhaustion and cynicism.
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