Mental Health

Burnout Assessment (MBI-9)

9-item Maslach Burnout Inventory short form measuring exhaustion, depersonalisation, and accomplishment.

The Maslach Burnout Inventory was developed by Maslach and Jackson. This is a short nine-item form based on it, and the short form has not itself been separately validated. It looks at three things — how emotionally drained you feel, how distant you have become from the people you work with, and how much you still feel you achieve — so it is a self-awareness check for working adults, not a diagnosis of any condition.

  1. I feel emotionally drained from my work. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  2. I feel used up at the end of the workday. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  3. I feel fatigued when I get up in the morning and have to face another day on the job. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  4. I feel I treat some recipients/colleagues as impersonal objects. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  5. I have become more callous toward people since I took this job. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  6. I can easily understand how people feel about things. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  7. I deal effectively with the problems of those I work with. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  8. I feel I am positively influencing other people's lives through my work. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)
  9. I feel exhilarated after working closely with people. (Never, A few times a year, Once a month, A few times a month, Once a week, A few times a week, Every day)

What your score means

Emotional Exhaustion 0-5 — Low. Feeling only mildly drained. 6-8 is moderate; 9-18 is high. High exhaustion alone is enough to make the overall result high.

Depersonalisation 0-1 — Low. Little distance from the people you work with. 2-3 is moderate; 4-12 is high.

Personal Accomplishment 20-24 — Intact. You still feel effective. 16-19 is moderate; 0-15 means your sense of accomplishment is low. On this subscale a lower number is worse.

Overall result 0-54 — How it is combined. If any one of the three subscales falls in its high range, the overall result is high burnout risk. If any falls in its moderate range, the result is moderate. The headline number is a composite from 0 to 54, so read the three subscales rather than the total.

Frequently asked questions

Is burnout the same as depression?

No. Burnout describes work-related exhaustion, and this questionnaire is about work only. Low mood that follows you outside work, or lasts weeks, should be checked with a doctor — try the PHQ-9 screen and speak to a professional.

When should I see a doctor?

See a doctor if exhaustion is affecting your sleep, appetite, physical health or safety at work, if it has not improved after real rest, or if you have any thoughts of harming yourself. Thoughts of self-harm need help the same day.

Why are there three scores instead of one?

Burnout shows up in different ways — exhaustion, distance from people, and loss of achievement. Someone can be badly exhausted while still feeling effective, so the three are reported separately.

How often should I retake this?

Every two to three months, or after a change in workload, role or team. Retaking it weekly will mostly show normal ups and downs.

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