Exploring the validity of the Sydney Burnout Measure

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the convergent validity of a new measure of burnout, the Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM) by comparison against the field standard measure – the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). A second aim was to consider burnout's association with psychological distress. 1483 dental professionals completed the two burnout measures as well as two measures of psychological distress. The overall correlation between total scores on the two measures (and on shared constructs) was high, and thus the convergent validity of the SBM was supported. Further, the SBM and MBI total scores correlated highly with total scores on the two measures of distress. Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) also identified substantial overlap between the measures, especially in relation to the exhaustion subscales of the burnout measures and their overlap with psychological distress items. While future research is required to determine which burnout measure and its associated burnout definition is most valid, our findings argue for further consideration of how burnout may best be conceptualized, as well as whether the syndrome is worthy of elevation to mental disorder status.