Internal construct validity of the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ).
BACKGROUND
Burnout is a mental condition defined as a result of continuous and long-term stress exposure, particularly related to psychosocial factors at work. This paper seeks to examine the psychometric properties of the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ) for validation of use in a clinical setting.


METHODS
Data from both a clinical (319) and general population (319) samples of health care and social insurance workers were included in the study. Data were analysed using both classical and modern test theory approaches, including Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis.


RESULTS
Of the 638 people recruited into the study 416 (65%) persons were working full or part time. Data from the SMBQ failed a CFA, and initially failed to satisfy Rasch model expectations. After the removal of 4 of the original items measuring tension, and accommodating local dependency in the data, model expectations were met. As such, the total score from the revised scale is a sufficient statistic for ascertaining burnout and an interval scale transformation is available. The scale as a whole was perfectly targeted to the joint sample. A cut point of 4.4 for severe burnout was chosen at the intersection of the distributions of the clinical and general population.


CONCLUSIONS
A revised 18 item version of the SMBQ satisfies modern measurement standards. Using its cut point it offers the opportunity to identify potential clinical cases of burnout.
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Per Dubbsgatan 14, plan 3, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. asa.lundgren-nilsson@neuro.gu.se
Åsa
Å
Lundgren-Nilsson
Ingibjörg H
IH
Jonsdottir
Julie
J
Pallant
Gunnar
G
Ahlborg
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013548:Sweden