Brief Description

The PINES Burnout Measure is based on Pines’ Existential Model and is designed to assess occupational burnout across various professional settings. It includes statements reflecting physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of fatigue, disappointment, and loss of interest, which accumulate over time due to chronic work-related stress and frustration with one’s job.

Purpose

The aim of the tool is to identify employees’ level of occupational burnout in order to detect early warning signs that may negatively affect psychological well-being, work performance, and quality of life.

Scoring Method

Participants respond to each statement based on the frequency of symptoms experienced, using a seven-point Likert scale (e.g., 1 = never, 7 = always). The total score is calculated as the mean of all responses. Higher scores indicate greater levels of occupational burnout.

Validity

PINES has demonstrated strong content validity, as its statements are derived from extensive qualitative and theoretical analyses of burnout phenomena. Construct validity has been confirmed through factor analyses that highlight three main dimensions: physical burnout, emotional exhaustion, and loss of meaning at work.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the tool is high, with Cronbach’s alpha values typically exceeding 0.90. Test–retest reliability is also satisfactory, confirming the stability of results over short time intervals.

Data Analysis and Use

Analysis can be conducted on the total score or on the subscale scores. Results are used to monitor employees’ psychological condition, evaluate the effectiveness of burnout prevention or intervention programs, and for research purposes. They may also be correlated with other variables such as job satisfaction, stress, and physical health.

References

Pines, A., & Aronson, E. (1988). Career burnout: Causes and cures. New York: Free Press.
Pines, A. (2005). The burnout measure, short version. International Journal of Stress Management, 12(1), 78–88.
Pines, A., Neal, M. B., Hammer, L. B., & Icekson, T. (2011). Job burnout and couple burnout in dual-earner couples in the sandwiched generation. Social Psychology Quarterly, 74(4), 361–386.