Tw. Taris et al., Construct validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey: a two-sample examination of its factor structure and correlates, WORK STRESS, 13(3), 1999, pp. 223-237
This research examines the construct validity of Schaufeli, Leiter, Maslach
, and Jackson's (1996) general burnout measure, the Maslach Burnout Invento
ry-General Survey (MBI-GS). Whereas burnout is traditionally defined and me
asured in terms of a phenomenon occurring among workers who work with peopl
e, the MBI-GS is intended for use outside the human services. The authors f
irst address the internal validity of the MBI-GS using data from two Dutch
samples (179 software engineers and 284 university staff members). Confirma
tory factor analysis revealed that the distinction among the three subscale
s of the MBI-GS was retained. To examine external validity, these subscales
were then related to selected work characteristics. Based on conservation
of resources theory, differential patterns of effects were predicted among
the correlates and the three burnout subscales. Expectations were largely s
upported, suggesting that the meaning of the three subscales is quite diffe
rent. These results largely replicate findings obtained in similar studies
on the validity of the contactual version of the MBI.