Burnout Inventory (MBI)

The MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) is a self-report questionnaire that measures occupational burnout across three separately scored subscales: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization and Personal Accomplishment. The original Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) has 22 items rated for frequency from 0 (never) to 6 (every day).

For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.

The MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) is a self-report questionnaire that measures occupational burnout on three separately scored subscales: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization and Personal Accomplishment [1]. This page covers how the MBI is scored and read; the burnout assessment page compares it with the OLBI, CBI and BAT.

What does the MBI measure?

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is the mainstream measure of burnout [3], developed by Christina Maslach and Susan Jackson [1]. It defines burnout across three interrelated dimensions:

  • Emotional Exhaustion (EE). Feeling emotionally depleted.
  • Depersonalization (DP). Detached, cynical attitudes toward the people one works with or for.
  • Reduced Personal Accomplishment (PA). Feelings of incompetence and lack of achievement.

The original MBI-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was designed for healthcare workers, teachers, and human services professionals. The MBI-General Survey (MBI-GS) was later developed for occupations outside direct service work.

Burnout is indicated by high EE, high DP and low PA. Scores are not summed into a total: each subscale is interpreted independently.

The MBI is published by Mind Garden and requires purchase for use. The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI, used in the burnout test), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and the newer Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) offer alternatives. The BAT's authors state it may be used free of charge without requesting permission; check the OLBI and CBI copyright holders' terms before use.

How do you give the MBI?

The MBI is a self-report questionnaire completed by the respondent without clinician involvement. Respondents rate the frequency of each statement on a 7-point scale (0 = never to 6 = every day).

No training is required for administration, though interpretation in occupational health contexts is typically conducted by a qualified professional. Use the version that matches the setting: the MBI-HSS for direct service roles, or the MBI-GS for other occupations, where Depersonalization becomes Cynicism and Personal Accomplishment becomes Professional Efficacy.

MBI copyright Mind Garden. Purchase required for use. Score interpretation does not replace clinical or occupational health assessment.

How do you score and interpret the MBI?

Subscales are interpreted independently: there is no single "total burnout score." Burnout profile = High EE + High DP + Low PA.

Studies commonly define high Emotional Exhaustion as 27 or higher, high Depersonalization as 10 or higher, and low Personal Accomplishment as 33 or lower [4]. These are normative conventions rather than diagnostically validated cutoffs. Screening for depression alongside, for example with the PHQ-9, helps separate burnout from a depressive episode.

Burnout inventory comparison

Four validated burnout scales with different licensing, structure, and use cases.

Psychometric properties

The MBI is the mainstream measure of burnout, but its psychometric properties have been questioned [3].

  • Sample. 925 Italian nurses; ten alternative models of the MBI-HSS were compared using confirmatory factor analysis.
  • Finding. Item malfunctioning could confound the factor structure; the three-dimensional structure following Maslach's definition was confirmed when the original 22 items were reduced to a 20-item set.
  • Alternatives. Models with fewer items or more latent dimensions did not perform better.

Limitations

  • Not a diagnosis. The MBI measures occupational burnout dimensions; it does not diagnose a medical or psychiatric condition, and the WHO classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon.
  • No total score. The three subscales are interpreted as a profile; there is no validated total burnout score.
  • Item-level issues. Some MBI-HSS items may malfunction, and factor analysis has supported a reduced 20-item set in some samples [3].
  • Self-report. Scores rely on self-perception and can be affected by mood and response style.
  • Licensing. The MBI requires purchase from Mind Garden, which limits use in some settings.
  • Burnout and mental illness. Research has examined the links between burnout and mental illness, so clinical follow-up matters when scores are high [2].

For individuals: This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.

Related

FAQ

  • Does the MBI give a single overall burnout score?

    No. The MBI measures three independent dimensions (Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment), each scored separately. There is no validated total burnout score. Burnout is indicated by a profile of high Emotional Exhaustion, high Depersonalization, and low Personal Accomplishment considered together.

  • Is the MBI self-report or clinician-administered?

    The MBI is a self-report questionnaire completed by the respondent without clinician involvement. Respondents rate the frequency of each statement on a 7-point scale (0 = never to 6 = every day). No training is required for administration, though interpretation in occupational health contexts is typically conducted by a qualified professional.

  • Can the MBI diagnose burnout as a medical condition?

    No. The MBI measures occupational burnout dimensions; it does not diagnose a medical or psychiatric condition. Burnout is classified by the WHO as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical disorder. High scores on the relevant subscales indicate elevated burnout, but a clinical interview and contextual assessment are needed before any determination of impairment or intervention.

  • What is the difference between the MBI-HSS and MBI-GS?

    The MBI-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was designed for healthcare workers, social workers, teachers, and others in direct service roles; its Depersonalization subscale specifically references attitudes toward the people the respondent serves. The MBI-General Survey (MBI-GS) was developed for workers in any occupation and replaces 'Depersonalization' with 'Cynicism' and 'Personal Accomplishment' with 'Professional Efficacy,' making it more appropriate for non-service settings.

References

    1. 1.Maslach C, Jackson SE. The measurement of experienced burnout. J Occup Behav. 1981;2(2):99-113.
    2. 2.Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(2):103-111.
    3. 3.Loera B, Converso D, Viotti S. Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among Italian nurses: how many factors must a researcher consider? PLoS One. 2014;9(12):e114987.
    4. 4.Ranasinghe PD, Owusu JT, Bertram A, et al. Depressive Symptoms and Burnout Among Medical Students: a Prospective Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2022;37(1):64-69.

HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.

Get started