The Maslach Burnout Inventory is not ameasure of burnout

Abstract

For decades, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) has been regarded as the "gold standard" for the assessment ofburnout. The present paper demonstrates that the MBI fails to measure the construct it is purported to measure. On a deeperlevel, the problems affecting the MBI question the very idea of burnout. These problems may be unsurprising in light ofthe genesis of the burnout construct. Burnout emerged in the mid-1970s as a largely predefined entity. Burnout's definitionwas not predicated on robust empirical investigations or sound theorizing, nor was it anchored in a systematic review ofthe literature on stress and health. Interestingly, other measures deemed to assess burnout, such as the Oldenburg BurnoutInventory, similarly fail to measure what they are claimed to measure. Despite far-reaching implications for our ability tostudy and promote occupational health, the flaws that undermine the conceptualization and measurement of burnout remainwidely underappreciated. We hope this paper will help raise awareness of these flaws and correct current practices in researchon job-related distress. Alternatives to burnout do exist and may enable us to support our workforce more effectively