[1] The original form of the MBI was developed by Christina Maslach and Susan E. Jackson with the goal of assessing an individual's experience of burnout.
[2] As underlined by Schaufeli (2003), a major figure of burnout research, "the MBI is neither grounded in firm clinical observation nor based on sound theorising.
[4] The MBI measures three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization,[a] and personal accomplishment.
[1] The psychometric properties of the MBI have proved somewhat problematic (e.g., in terms of factorial validity and measurement invariance), casting doubt on the conceptual coherence and syndromal cohesiveness of burnout.
The 5-item Depersonalization (DP) scale measures an unfeeling and impersonal response toward recipients of one's service, care, treatment, or instruction.
The 8-item Personal Accomplishment (PA) scale measures feelings of competence and successful achievement in one's work.
The cynicism measured by this scale is a coping mechanism for distancing oneself from exhausting job demands.
The 6-item Professional Efficacy scale measures feelings of competence and successful achievement in one's work.
Source:[1] The MBI has five validated forms composed of 16–22 items to measure an individual's experience of burnout.
It was designed for professionals in human services and is appropriate for respondents working in a diverse array of occupations, including nurses, physicians, health aides, social workers, health counselors, therapists, police, correctional officers, clergy, and other fields focused on helping people live better lives by offering guidance, preventing harm, and ameliorating physical, emotional, or cognitive problems.
It was designed for teachers, administrators, other staff members, and volunteers working in any educational setting.