Factorial validity and consistency of the MBI-GS across occupational groups in Norway.

The present study tested the factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) among 694 participants from 4 different occupational groups. Confirmatory factor analyses of the total sample, as well as multigroup analyses and analyses of each of the 4 occupational groups separately, indicated that the original 3-factor model of the MBI-GS provided a good fit to the data. Internal consistencies of the subscales of the MBI-GS were acceptable, and test-retest reliability indicated relative stability of scores over a 6-month interval. These results indicate that the proposed 3-factor structure of the MBI-GS, based on 16 items, can be replicated in the total sample as well as across different occupational groups in Norway. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparing Two Measures of Burnout Among Dentists in Australia.

The authors report results from a study of stress and burnout in dentists in which a new measure of burnout, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), was compared with the well-established Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; C. Maslach & S. E. Jackson, 1981). The results suggest that the CBI possesses excellent psychometric properties and seems to be an appropriate measure of burnout in populations of health professionals. By comparison, difficulties were encountered in demonstrating the assumed nexus between the 3 (subscale) components of the MBI. These results call into question a long-held definition of burnout that appears to have been widely accepted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Burnout Measure, Short Version.

The Burnout Measure (BM; Pines & Aronson, 1988) is a widely used self-report measure of burnout. It includes 21 items, evaluated on 7-point frequency scales, assessing the level of an individual's physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. In this article, a shorter, 10-item version of the BM (BMS) is described that was developed in response to researchers' and practitioners' need for an easy-to-use instrument requiring less questionnaire space and less time for administration and scoring. Data from 2 national samples (Israeli Jewish and Arab) and 3 occupational samples attest to the validity and reliability of the BMS. Its ease of use and high face validity make the BMS attractive for researchers and practitioners interested in stress management. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Direct and interaction effects among the dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: Results from two German longitudinal samples.

Inspired by the idea that the three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) are causally related to each other, five models have been proposed in the literature to explain the main processes of burnout development. Latest empirical findings based on model comparisons suggest that emotional exhaustion exerts positive lagged effects on depersonalization and that depersonalization conceptualized as a coping strategy in turn leads to exhaustion and a low sense of personal accomplishment. The present study offers a more thorough test of various models of burnout development with longitudinal data from two German samples (total N = 643). The analyses, based on structural equation modeling, showed that exhaustion is longitudinally associated with depersonalization and that accomplishment is longitudinally predicted by depersonalization and exhaustion. Furthermore, and going beyond prior research, three moderator effects of depersonalization were identified in predicting all three burnout dimensions at a later point in time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Traduction et validation d'une nouvelle mesure d'épuisement professionnel: Le shirom-melamed burnout measure.

This research aims to empirically validate into the French language and for the first time the Shirom Melamed Burnout Measure (Shirom & Melamed, 2006). First proposed by its designers as an alternative to the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1981, 1986; Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996), this new measure of professional burnout is presented as an extension of the conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989). Based on 2 samples of 203 and 214 individuals, respectively, the present study not only validates the French wording of English items but also confirms satisfactory psychometric properties of the original scale. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electronic diary evidence on energy erosion in clinical burnout.

Burnout is generally defined as a state of severe exhaustion. So far, research has predominantly focused on relatively mild burnout in employees able to work despite their complaints. This study examines energy depletion in clinical burnout (e.g., the severest cases on extended sick leave) by comparing the diurnal patterns of fatigue and exhaustion with those of healthy individuals. Sixty clinically burned-out and 40 healthy participants kept an electronic diary for 14 days, 7 times a day, yielding a total of 8,116 diary entries. This study shows that burned-out individuals typically suffer continuously from a severe fatigue throughout the day. The resulting flattened diurnal cycles mark a stable exhaustion that is uncommon in healthy persons. The current results provide novel support for the existence of severe energy erosion in clinical burnout. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Organizational and individual factors influencing job satisfaction and burnout of mental health workers

Job satisfaction and burnout are important areas of study because of the financial and social effects of job satisfaction and the damaging physical/psychological impacts of burnout. Two hundred family/children and psychiatric workers of seven social service organizations were surveyed. Instruments used were the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Staff Burnout Scale for Health Professionals. Reported levels of job satisfaction and burnout are within normal limits. Psychiatric and family/children workers report equal job satisfaction levels, but the latter group reports significantly higher burnout levels. Both groups are particularly satisfied with the amount of praise delivered by supervisors and are reportedly dissatisfied with salary levels and promotional opportunities. These three factors are strongly associated with job satisfaction and burnout levels of both groups. Findings have practical implications for social service administrators and practitioners. Correlates of satisfaction and burnout can be altered in order to maintain employee satisfaction and reduce burnout, absenteeism and turnover.     

Moderating effect of social support on the stress–burnout relationship.

Assessed the extent of life and work stresses, the availability of social support, and experience of burnout through a self-report questionnaire administered to 357 female (mean age 32 yrs) and 273 male (mean age 39 yrs) Israeli managers and human service professionals. Analysis showed that female Ss experienced more burnout and stress in life than did male Ss; no difference was found between the sexes for stress in work. Burnout was positively correlated with stress and negatively correlated with social support in both life and work. Further analysis revealed different patterns of moderating effects of social support on the relationship between stress and burnout for males and females: The relationship between work stress and burnout was moderated by support in life for females and by support in work for males. It is concluded that special attention should be paid to cultural, occupational, and sex differences in social support research and the exploration of its buffering effect. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuroticism and locus of control as moderators of the relationships of charismatic and autocratic leadership with burnout.

This study examined the moderating role of personality traits in the relationship between leader behavior and burnout. In two samples, employees (N = 91; N = 190) filled out the Maslach Burnout Inventory—General Survey and rated their leader’s autocratic and charismatic leader behavior and their own neuroticism and internal work locus of control. As expected, neuroticism and internal work locus of control moderated the relationship between leader behavior and burnout. Charisma was associated with lower burnout, particularly for individuals low on internal locus. The relationship between autocratic leadership and burnout was positive for neurotic individuals, whereas for emotionally stable individuals this relationship weakened. These results were consistent across two independent samples: one with individual employee ratings of manager’s leadership styles and the other with aggregate ratings of manager’s leadership styles among employees in diverse organizations. Thus, although charismatic and autocratic leader behavior may respectively act to hinder or enhance overload and stress, the relationship between these leadership styles and burnout differs for followers with different traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Burnout and work engagement: A thorough investigation of the independency of both constructs.

This study among 528 South African employees working in the construction industry examined the dimensionality of burnout and work engagement, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. On the basis of the literature, we predicted that cynicism and dedication are opposite ends of one underlying attitude dimension (called “identification”), and that exhaustion and vigor are opposite ends of one “energy” dimension. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that while the attitude constructs represent opposite ends of one continuum, the energy constructs do not—although they are highly correlated. These findings are also supported by the pattern of relationships between burnout and work engagement on the one hand, and predictors (i.e., work pressure, autonomy) and outcomes (i.e., organizational commitment, mental health) on the other hand. Implications for the measurement and conceptualization of burnout and work engagement are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Simple formula aids for understanding the joint action of two predictors.

"It was demonstrated that the ratio of any two fixed validity coefficients will locate a value for the intercorrelation term in the two-predictor, multiple correlation formula such that the variable having the lower validity will contribute nothing to the variable having the higher validity. The resulting multiple correlation is thereby a minimum. A second formula is presented that determines two intercorrelation values for any fixed pair of validity coefficients which will result in a multiple correlation of 1.00. This second formula does not hold when both validity coefficients are exactly zero, and is restricted to determination of a single intercorrelation value when the two validity coefficients are exactly equal and not zero. From Psyc Abstracts 36:05:5AG85M. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Burnout among school psychologists: An exploratory investigation into its nature, extent, and correlates.

Studied 139 school psychologists who completed a survey that included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a stress inventory, demographic questions, and questions designed to assess their job satisfaction, ideal caseloads, and intent to leave the profession. The results suggested that symptoms of burnout occur frequently among Ss, particularly feelings of emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment. Demographic factors related modestly to burnout, whereas job-related stressors (lack of resources, interpersonal conflict, crisis cases) related more substantially to burnout. Burnout was also related to Ss' perceptions of their caseloads, overall job satisfaction, supervision satisfaction, and the desire to leave the profession. Also, Ss reported using burnout coping methods that may not adequately address its antecedents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The job demands-resources model of burnout.

The job demands-resources (JD-R) model proposes that working conditions can be categorized into 2 broad categories, job demands and job resources, that are differentially related to specific outcomes. A series of LISREL analyses using self-reports as well as observer ratings of the working conditions provided strong evidence for the JD-R model: Job demands are primarily related to the exhaustion component of burnout, whereas (lack of) job resources are primarily related to disengagement. Highly similar patterns were observed in each of 3 occupational groups: human services, industry, and transport (total N?=?374). In addition, results confirmed the 2-factor structure (exhaustion and disengagement) of a new burnout instrument—the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory—and suggested that this structure is essentially invariant across occupational groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of a respite from work on burnout: Vacation relief and fade-out.

In a quasi-experiment designed to examine the relief from job stress and burnout afforded by a vacation respite, 76 clerks completed measures of job stress and burnout twice before a vacation, once during vacation, and twice after vacation. There was a decline in burnout during the vacation and a return to prevacation levels by the time of the second postvacation measure. Comparing the two prevacation measures indicated no anticipation effects. However the return to work showed gradual fade-out, as burnout returned part way toward its prevacation level by 3 days after the vacation and all the way by 3 weeks after the vacation. Women and those satisfied with their vacations experienced greater relief; however, both subsamples also experienced the quickest fade-out. The respite effect and its complete fade-out were detected among all subgroups analyzed. Burnout, relief, interpersonal stress crossover, and burnout climate at work are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of production control in the development of burnout

Burnout is an increasingly important problem in modern work organizations. Few studies, however, have explicitly applied an adequate theoretical understanding of the performance of modern organizations. This article aims to initiate both a discussion of this phenomenon and higher-quality research into the emergence of burnout based on an understanding of the economic-technological rationalization and control (management control) of production and service processes. In applying production control, both technical and bureaucratic, group and attitudinal control systems are increasingly integrated. This so-called systematic control strategy is one of the major causes of burnout. The cumulative effect of an increasing workload combined with reduced resources due to economic considerations and technocratic implementation of production control is assumed to be relevant to the development of burnout. The authors' propositions apply to service workers in human service organizations and to key workers in enterprises using flexible specialization combined with self-directed work groups.     

Staff burnout and patient satisfaction: Evidence of relationships at the care unit level.

Research on burnout has thus far focused primarily on the individual; however, in work environments in which teamwork is emphasized, it seems plausible that a meaningful group-level burnout construct could emerge. This theory was tested by examining burnout in psychosocial rehabilitation teams and its effects on patient satisfaction. Three hundred thirty-three staff from 31 behavioral health teams completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory; 405 of the clients they served completed the Consumer Satisfaction Scale. Multilevel analyses (hierarchical linear modeling) confirmed the existence of a meaningful team-level burnout construct. Team-level analyses revealed significant relationships between team burnout and patient satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical beliefs about burnout and continued professional practice.

Investigated psychologists' ethical beliefs about continued professional practice in psychology when the practitioner is experiencing burnout or impairment. 94 psychologists completed a demographic questionnaire, an attitude survey, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Relationships among Ss' ethical beliefs, professional practices, and measured levels of burnout were examined, and these elements were found to correlate significantly. Results also suggest that psychologists perceive burnout to be a form of impairment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of two reliable and valid measures of stressors in policing: The operational and organizational police stress questionnaires.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 14(3) of International Journal of Stress Management (see record 2007-12374-002). The authors of this paper carried out this research on behalf of the Government of Canada, and, as such the copyright in this paper belongs to the Crown, that is to the Canadian government. Non-exclusive permission is granted to requesters to translate and to reproduce this content in any form provided that its source, the authors, and the Defence R&D Canada are clearly indicated.] This article describes the development and validation of the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) and the Organizational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Org). In Study 1, a series of focus groups were used to elicit the most common stressors associated with policing. During this study, it became apparent that officers separated their stressors into two general categories: operational and organizational. In the following three studies, the PSQ-Op and PSQ-Org were assessed for reliability and validity. The findings showed that both forms of the PSQ were reliable and demonstrated construct validity (correlations between perceived stress and frequency), discriminant validity (compared with general life stressors), and concurrent validity (compared with job satisfaction measures). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Break copy" duplication: a model for chromosome fragment formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Scores on burnout among 631 Canadian and 1,180 Dutch teachers were compared with various demographic variables (sex and age) and factors related to work (experience in teaching, type of school, and number of hours employed). Burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory of three dimensions, Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Analysis indicated that, over-all, Canadian teachers reported higher scores on Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization than their Dutch peers. Differences in the number of hours employed were also significant: full-time Canadian teachers scored higher on Depersonalization than their Dutch colleagues. Across countries, sex and type of school appeared significantly related to burnout. Male teachers rated higher on Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization than the women. Especially with regard to the attitudinal components of burnout, i.e., Depersonalization and Personal Accomplishment, secondary school teachers reported higher scores than elementary school teachers. Age was not significantly related to measures.