MindBodySpirit
Wellbeing & Empowerment
for Better Living
BURNOUT ASSESSMENT TOOL (BAT) INVENTORY RESULTS
What is Burnout?
An article in the Journal of Behavioral Sciences (Basel) states that burnout is broadly understood as a psychological state of exhaustion stemming from continuous exposure to work- [or life-] related stressors, while having insufficient resources to effectively manage those stressors (Nadon, De Beer & Morin, 2022). The authors go on to state that burnout is a modern affliction of epidemic proportions that has evolved from being uniquely associated with human services employees to being considered a relevant phenomenon across all occupational groups.
Although burnout is typically associated with work-related stress, it could also result from combined chronic life and work stress, and encompasses at least three distinctive, yet interrelated, components:
Exhaustion (e.g., mental or physical fatigue)
Cynicism (or Depersonalization) (e.g., the world is dog-eat-dog), and
Perceived Impaired or Non-existent Professional [or Personal] Efficacy (e.g., nothing I do matters or I can’t change anything for the better.)
When individuals experience burnout, work that was once seen as challenging and meaningful becomes increasingly unfulfilling and unsustainable over time. In situations where work and personal stress are chronic, these same sentiments may be perceived to apply to one’s personal life as well.
First identified in the 1970s, most research to date on burnout has been focused among human services professions. However, a recent survey spanning six countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, indicates that burnout is on the rise globally, with 42% of the total workforce reporting it (Future Forum, 2024), not just human services professionals.
While burnout is not yet considered a diagnosable mental disorder that qualifies for disability or medical leave, it does have a deleterious impact on workplace productivity and on individual quality of life. Twenty-first century living clearly demands that we do better to support self-care and psychological resilience to function and thrive in our increasingly challenging and rapidly changing world.
What Your Score Means
22 - 43 Points
SCORE < 2
GO | You’ve got the green light to keep doing what you’re doing. Life is all good or mostly all good for you.
44 - 65
Points
SCORE < 3
CAUTION | Yellow lights are part of life. Be sure you take time to recharge your batteries after days that challenge your resilience.
66 - 87
Points
SCORE < 4
WARNING | You’ve got an amber warning light. Take action now before it turns red. Get some support to boost your resilience.
88 - 110
Points
SCORE =/> 4
STOP | You scored the red light of burnout. It is vitally important that you find an effective support professional before a crisis happens.
It is important to note that burnout is highly correlated with other mood challenges, such as depression and anxiety. Research indicates the correlation is reciprocal, not necessarily causative, but having preexisting depression or anxiety challenges can make a person more susceptible to experiencing burnout.
It is also important to note that burnout cannot be “cured” with a 2-week vacation or even a few months of FMLA, which would need to be granted for other reasons besides burnout, since burnout is not a recognized medical diagnosis.
Burnout recovery requires mindset and lifestyle changes and takes time as these changes must be organic, manageable and sustainable long-term.
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