RASCH ANALYSIS OF THE MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY-STUDENT SURVEY (MBI-SS): A USEFUL SCALE TO ASSESS BURNOUT IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STUDENTS

Background: Burnout syndrome has been studied in undergraduate students using the exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). Although studies have... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Burnout syndrome has been studied in undergraduate students using the exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). Although studies have investigated the measurement properties of this MBI-SS, a range of findings have been reported in the peer-reviewed literature about its measurement properties and the response patterns of the participants themselves have not been described. The aim of the study was to investigate the scalability, unidimensionality, differential item functioning, rating scale structure and internal consistency of the three MBI-SS subscales using the Rasch Measurement Model.

Methods: 225 Australian occupational therapy undergraduate students completed the MBI-SS. The Rasch Measurement Model was used to examine the MBI-SS’s construct validity.

Results: all items from each subscale met the Rasch Model fit statistics requirements. Reliability indices resulted in precise estimates defining the construct of burnout for its three dimensions. Fit statistics and the principle components analysis of the model residuals supported the unidimensionality of the three MBI-SS subscales. None of the subscale items exhibited differential item functioning based on gender. The appropriateness of the MBI-SS rating scales were confirmed.

Conclusion: The findings indicated that the three MBI-SS subscales exhibited adequate levels of construct validity and therefore can be used with confidence to assess components of the burnout syndrome in undergraduate occupational therapy students.

Application to Practice: It would be helpful for academic and fieldwork educators to have access to a valid scale to able to assess occupational therapy students’ burnout and stress levels.