A Confirmation of the Three-Factor Structure of the Maslach Burnout Inventory

Abstract

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is a widely used measure of three specific aspects of the burnout syndrome-namely; emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. It is rapidly becoming a valued tool in assessment of perceived burnout in human service professionals. Although its reliability and validity are well established, its factor structure is not. In previous studies different researchers have found very different factor solutions. In the present study this problem was solved by principal components analysis of previously published American data and New Zealand data, followed by three- and four-factor varimax rotations. The outcome produced a clear, replicable three-factor solution consistent with that of the MBI authors' descriptions. No replicable four-factor structure was found.