Psychology & well-being
Burnout scale: what it is and how to measure it
- Concept
- Burnout
- Field
- Psychology & well-being
- Scales in the library
- 3
- Items
- 19
Burnout is a state of prolonged physical and mental fatigue, usually tied to work or study. Maslach defined burnout as three parts: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment; Kristensen et al. (2005) built the CBI to focus on fatigue and attribute it to three domains. In theses in Vietnam, burnout often appears in studies on healthcare workers, teachers, and bank employees, and in the job demands-resources model together with work engagement.
Comparing the scales
| Scale | Author (year) | Items | Response format | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Burnout (PB) Copenhagen Burnout Inventory | Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen & Christensen (2005) | 6 | 5-point | Choose when measuring general fatigue without attributing it to work; usable for students and retirees as well. |
| Work-related Burnout (WB) Copenhagen Burnout Inventory | Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen & Christensen (2005) | 7 | 5-point | Choose when your topic is workers and you want to attribute fatigue to work. |
| Client-related Burnout (CB) Copenhagen Burnout Inventory | Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen & Christensen (2005) | 6 | 5-point | Choose when respondents work directly with clients, patients, or students. |
Items of each scale
Original English wording from the published source. Replace placeholders such as [system] or
[brand] with what your study is about, and pilot the questionnaire with 20 to 30 respondents first.
Personal Burnout (PB) · Copenhagen Burnout Inventory
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| PB1 | How often do you feel tired? |
| PB2 | How often are you physically exhausted? |
| PB3 | How often are you emotionally exhausted? |
| PB4 | How often do you think: ”I can’t take it anymore”? |
| PB5 | How often do you feel worn out? |
| PB6 | How often do you feel weak and susceptible to illness? |
Source: Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen & Christensen (2005). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.
Work-related Burnout (WB) · Copenhagen Burnout Inventory
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| WB1 | Is your work emotionally exhausting? |
| WB2 | Do you feel burnt out because of your work? |
| WB3 | Does your work frustrate you? |
| WB4 | Do you feel worn out at the end of the working day? |
| WB5 | Are you exhausted in the morning at the thought of another day at work? |
| WB6 | Do you feel that every working hour is tiring for you? |
| WB7 (R) | Do you have enough energy for family and friends during leisure time? |
Source: Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen & Christensen (2005). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.
Client-related Burnout (CB) · Copenhagen Burnout Inventory
| Code | Item |
|---|---|
| CB1 | Do you find it hard to work with clients? |
| CB2 | Do you find it frustrating to work with clients? |
| CB3 | Does it drain your energy to work with clients? |
| CB4 | Do you feel that you give more than you get back when you work with clients? |
| CB5 | Are you tired of working with clients? |
| CB6 | Do you sometimes wonder how long you will be able to continue working with clients? |
Source: Kristensen, Borritz, Villadsen & Christensen (2005). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.
(R): reverse-coded item; recode before analysis. Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: Item WB7 after scoring on 0–100: new score = 100 − score (100 becomes 0, 75 becomes 25, 50 stays the same).
Tips
- The CBI uses two kinds of scale: frequency (Always ... Never) and degree (To a very high degree ... To a very low degree). Keep the correct scale type for each item as listed on the scale page.
- Item WB7 is reverse-coded. Reverse the score before computing the mean.
- Replace 'clients' in the CB subscale with the specific group, such as patients, students, or bank customers.
- The three subscales are scored separately and are not summed into one overall burnout score.
Once you have a scale, put the concept in the research model drawer to state your hypotheses, work out the minimum sample size, and after data collection check reliability with the Cronbach's alpha calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How does the CBI differ from the MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory)?
The MBI is copyrighted and requires a paid license; it has three components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment. The CBI is free, measures only fatigue, and attributes it to the person, work, or clients.
Do I need to use all 3 CBI subscales?
Not necessarily. Kristensen et al. designed it so you can choose the suitable subscales. A study of office staff with little client contact can drop the CB subscale.
How do burnout and stress differ?
Stress is a reaction to pressure and can be short-term. Burnout is the consequence of prolonged stress, shown as persistent fatigue. In a model, stress usually comes before burnout.