The Three Dimensions of Burnout
The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)Β is widely considered the "gold standard" psychological assessment for measuring occupational burnout. It measures burnout across three core dimensions rather than treating it as a simple measure of exhaustion.
The MBI evaluates an individual's relationship with their work through these key areas:
- Emotional Exhaustion (EE): Feeling overextended, drained, and depleted of one's emotional and physical resources.
- Depersonalization / Cynicism (DP): An excessively detached, negative, or callous response to coworkers, clients, or the work itself.
- Personal Accomplishment / Professional Efficacy (PA): Feelings of competence, productivity, and successful achievement in one's work. (Note: Lower scores in this area indicate a higher burnout burden).
