ABSTRACT
Both the generic and phase-specific perspectives support the cross-national (and perhaps cross-cultural) character of burnout. Cross-national comparisons moved closer to explicit burnout formulations when they involved work or job strain. Viewed from another angle, the panel of cross-national studies reflects several other interesting points of contrast and consistency. A key issue associated with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) items—perhaps the key issue—involves the question of whether separate studies assess the same dimensions of reality in different national samples. Several cross-national comparisons also suggest that respondents to the MBI "see" substantially the same dimensional universe despite the underlying differences between national loci, work settings, and probably cultures. Here analysis compares samples from six countries with one another. Limited but useful perspective on burnout as cross-national or cross-cultural derives from the phase model. Four emphases introduce the phase model's relevance while also reflecting its character and development.
