Psychometric study of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS) in the Ecuadorian university context

Abstract

The present instrumental study examines the psychometric properties of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Survey (MBI-SS) in a sample of 361 undergraduate psychology students at a private Ecuadorian university, Quito campus. Data collection was carried out virtually during the confinement phase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a reduced version of 14 items of the MBI-SS, the main results of the validation process are the following: a) the three-factor model (burnout, cynicism and academic inefficacy) presents a satisfactory fit to the data; b) all subscales of the instrument have good levels of reliability; c) the subscales of the MBI-SS are negatively correlated with the variable study satisfaction, providing evidence of nomological validity; and d) the MBI-SS has strong factorial invariance regarding to the sex of the students. As a whole, the collection of validity evidence allows us to conclude that the MBI-SS, considering the established measurement model, is a valid, useful and reliable instrument to measure and evaluate academic burnout within the Ecuadorian university context.