Burnout Stigma Inventory: Initial Development and Validation in Industry and Academia.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Mental Health Research
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Burnout is a significant risk factor for adverse mental and physical health outcomes.
• Prevention of burnout is often hindered by the social stigma surrounding it.
• A validated measure for perceived burnout stigma is needed to address this barrier.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel, psychometrically sound measure of perceived burnout stigma.
• To examine the relationship between burnout stigma and mental health indicators.
• To assess the predictive utility of burnout stigma for mental health over time.

Main Methods:

• Scale construction using items from existing mental health stigma and burnout scales.
• Factor analyses (exploratory and confirmatory) and item response theory for validation.
• Hierarchical multiple regressions and cross-lagged/bidirectional models to assess relationships with mental health outcomes.

Main Results:

• The Burnout Stigma Instrument (BSI-8) was developed with excellent psychometric properties.
• Burnout stigma significantly predicted variance in depression, anxiety, and stress, beyond burnout itself.
• Burnout stigma was shown to predict mental health indicators longitudinally.

Conclusions:

• The BSI-8 is a reliable and valid measure for assessing perceived burnout stigma in both work and school settings.
• Burnout stigma is a distinct construct that negatively impacts mental health.
• Addressing burnout stigma is crucial for effective burnout prevention and mental well-being.