ABSTRACT
This chapter notes how the existing view of burnout is weighted to the model underpinning the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). This widely used measure dates from the early 1980s. It posits a ‘triadic’ model: that burnout is characterised by (i) emotional exhaustion, (ii) ‘depersonalisation’ or negative attitudes towards clients or patients, and (iii) low personal accomplishment. Burnout is seen as a psychological response to aspects of an individual’s daily experiences at work. It is argued here that the MBI is too narrow in scope (developed from human services workers, though there is a ‘General Survey’ version) and its dimensionality (rating by severity but without diagnostic cut-off scores) limits diagnostic accuracy, as generated scores are difficult to interpret. The MBI is also unable to distinguish between burnout and depression and risks generating false positives, misdiagnosing those with other primary psychiatric conditions. The chapter argues that burnout symptom constructs go beyond the three domains outlined by the MBI. As well, burnout syndromes are not limited to the workplace––caregivers and those with particular personality styles are at heightened risk too.
