The factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) across occupational groups and nations

Abstract

The factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) was investigated among employees of a multinational company in the forest industry. The present study includes data from Finnish, Swedish and Dutch employees (total N = 9055). The hypothesized three-factor model of the MBI-GS (Exhaustion, Cynicism, Professional Efficacy) was replicated across occupational groups (i.e. managers, clerks, foremen technicians, blue-collar workers) and nations. The fit of this model to the data was superior to alternative one- and two-factor models in all samples under investigation. In addition, the three-factor structure of the MBI-GS proved invariant across all occupational groups. The internal consistencies of the three subscales are satisfactory, except for the cynicism scale in some subsamples. Therefore, it is suggested to exclude one - ambiguous - cynicism item. Finally, some differences in levels of burnout are found between nations and occupational groups that are consistent with earlier findings.