Validation of a Short Scale in Italian to Measure Teacher Burnout
Abstract
Abstract. This study creates and validates a short, Italian-language scale to measure teacher burnout. To this end, we used two scales from the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory which had already been translated into Italian in a previous study. We administered this measure to two samples of teachers (n1 = 2688 and n2 = 676) in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. The final scale consisted of 10 items that measure teacher burnout on the dimensions of work- and student-related burnout. We performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the psychometric properties of the instrument as well as conducting analyses of invariance between the sexes and across school sectors. Results showed that work- and student-related burnout were significantly correlated with the constructs of perceived workload, optimism, and life satisfaction. Moreover, neither dimension of burnout was associated with sex, age, seniority, or family status, although both dimensions of burnout were significantly correlated with professional status and percentage of working hours per week. Overall, the analyses show that the final short scale is a valid instrument for measuring teacher burnout. Because of its brevity, this scale can easily be integrated into surveys conducted by public health institutions and education departments.
References
2011). A meta-analysis of burnout with job demands, resources, and attitudes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79, 549–562. doi 10.1016/j.jvb.2011.03.007
(2013). Contributo alla validazione italiana del Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) [
(Contribution to the Italian validation of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) ]. Psicologia della Salute, 2, 120–135. doi 10.3280/PDS2013-0020082006). A test of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and psychological engagement. Australian Journal of Psychology, 58, 114. doi 10.1080/00049530600940019
(1989). L’échelle de satisfaction de vie: Validation Canadienne-Francaise du “Satisfaction with Life Scale” [
(French-Canadian validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale ]. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 21, 210–223. doi 10.1037/h00798542004). Employee burnout: A meta-analysis of the relationship between age or years of experience. Human2 Resource Development Review, 3, 102–123. doi 10.1177/1534484304263335
(1999).
(The nomological network of teacher burnout: A literature review and empirically validated model . In R. VandenbergheA. M. HubermanEds., Understanding and preventing teacher burnout: A sourcebook of international research and practice (pp. 15–37). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.2010). Structural equation modeling with AMOS (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
(2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 464–504. doi 10.1080/10705510701301834
(1977). Understanding executive stress. New York: Petrocelli Books.
(1993). A review and an integration of research on job burnout. Academy of Management Review, 18, 621–656. doi 10.5465/AMR.1993.9402210153
(2012). Burnout in teachers: Its relationship with personality, coping strategies and life satisfaction. Acta Médica Portuguesa, 25(3), 145–155.
(1999).
(Do teachers burn out more easily? A comparison of teachers with other social professions on work stress and burnout symptoms . In R. Vandenberghe,A. M. HubermanEds., Understanding and preventing teacher burnout: A sourcebook of international research and practice (pp. 269–284). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 499–512. doi 10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499
(1998). The happy personality: A meta-analysis of 137 personality traits and subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 197–229. doi 10.1037/0033-2909.124. 2.197
(1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.
(1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. doi 10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
(2012). The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS): Un contributo alla validazione italiana con lavoratori adulti [
(The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS): A contribution to the Italian validation with adult workers ]. Counseling: Giornale Italiano di Ricerca e Applicazioni, 5, 207–215.2008). Psychometric analysis of the UK health and safety executive’s management standards work-related stress indicator tool. Work & Stress, 22, 96–107. doi 10.1080/02678370802166599
(2015). Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI): A validation study in an Italian teacher group. Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 22, 537–551. doi 10.4473/TPM22.4.7
(2008). Misurare l’ottimismo: Proprietà psicometriche della versione italiana del Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) [
(Measuring optimism: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) ]. Counseling: Giornale Italiano di Ricerca e Applicazioni, 1(1), 73–84.1990). A gender-role perspective of coping and burnout. Applied Psychology, 39, 5–27. doi 10.1111/j.1464-0597.1990.tb01035.x
(2006). Burnout and work engagement among teachers. Journal of School Psychology, 43, 495–513. doi 10.1016/j.jsp.2005.11.001
(2012). Do burnout and work engagement predict depressive symptoms and life satisfaction? A three-wave seven-year prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 141, 415–424. doi 10.1016/j.jad.2012.02.043
(2005). The construct validity of an alternative measure of burnout: Investigating the English translation of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. Work & Stress, 19, 208–220. doi 10.1080/02678370500340728
(2007). Optimism, stress, life satisfaction, and job burnout in restaurant managers. The Journal of Psychology, 141, 565–579. doi 10.3200/JRLP.141.6.565-580
(1965). A rationale and test for the number of factors in factor analysis. Psychometrika, 30, 179–185. doi 10.1007/ BF02289447
(2015). Beyond myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Redefining an illness. Washington, DC: Author.
(2000). A test of the Maslach Burnout Inventory in three samples of healthcare professionals. Work & Stress, 14, 35–50. doi 10.1080/026783700417212
(2005). Self-efficacy, social support and well-being: The mediating role of optimism. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1281–1290. doi 10.1016/j.paid.2005.10.019
(1998).
(Demand/control model: A social, emotional, and physiological approach to stress risk and active behavior development . In J. M. StellmanEd., Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety (pp. 34.6–34.14). Geneva, Switzerland: ILO.2007). Job stressors, personality and burnout in primary school teachers. The British Journal of Educational Psychology, 77, 229–243. doi 10.1348/000709905X90344
(2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress, 19, 192–207. doi 10.1080/02678370500297720
(2004). Dynamique motivationnelle de l’épuisement et du bien-être chez des enseignants africains [
(Motivational dynamic of burnout and well-being in African teachers ]. Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement, 36, 190–201. doi 10.1037/h00872291991).
(The relationship between life satisfaction and psychosocial variables: New perspectives . In F. StrackM. ArgyleN. SchwarzEds., Subjective well-being: An interdisciplinary perspective (pp. 193–212). New York: Pergamon.2004). Quale rischio di patologia psichiatrica per la categoria professionale degli insegnanti? [
(Is there any correlation between psychiatric disease and the teaching profession? ]. Medicina del Lavoro, 95, 339–353.2005). The Burnout Measure, Short Version. International Journal of Stress Management, 12, 78–88. doi 10.1037/1072-5245.12.1.78
(1996). Maslach Burnout Inventory (3rd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
(1999). Test theory: A unified treatment. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
(1994). A review of current practices for evaluating causal models in organizational behavior and human resources management research. Journal of Management, 20, 439–464. doi 10.1177/014920639402000207
(2008). Burnout and wellbeing: Testing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory in New Zealand teachers. Social Indicators Research, 89, 169–177. doi 10.1007/s11205-007-9229-9
(2013). Fiabilidad y validez del Copenhagen Burnout Inventory para su uso en Espa�a [
(Validation of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory to assess professional burnout in Spain ]. Revista Espa�ola de Salud Pública, 87, 165–179. doi 10.4321/S1135-572720130002000062004). Overcommitment and high effort are strongly associated with burnout among Japanese nurses. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 11, 214.
(1993). Review of the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 164–172. doi 10.1037/1040-3590.5.2.164
(2000). The future of optimism. American Psychologist, 55, 44–55. doi 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.44
(2009). Youth life satisfaction: A review of the literature. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10, 583–630. doi 10.1007/s10902-008-9110-9
(2010). Gender differences in burnout: A meta-analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77, 168–185. doi 10.1016/j.jvb.2010.04.006
(2004). Job demands, job resources, and their relationship with burnout and engagement: A multisample study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25, 293–315. doi 10.1002/job.248
(1998). The burnout companion to study and practice: A critical analysis. London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
(2009). Burnout: 35 years of research and practice. Career Development International, 14, 204–220. doi 10.1108/13620430910966406
(1985). Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4, 219–247. doi 10.1037/0278-6133.4. 3.219
(1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1063–1078. doi 10.1037/0022-3514.67.6.1063
(2014). Pitfalls and challenges in constructing short forms of cognitive ability measures. Journal of Individual Differences, 35, 190–200. doi 10.1027/1614-0001/a000134
(2001). Why positive psychology is necessary. American Psychologist, 56, 216–217. doi 10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.216
(2005).
(Does burnout affect physical health? A review of the evidence . In A. S. G. AntoniouC. L. CooperEds., Research companion to organizational health psychology (pp. 599–622). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.2008).
(Teacher self-efficacy: Conceptual analysis and relations with teacher burnout and perceived school context . In H. W. MarshR. CravenD. McInerneyEds., Self-processes, learning, and enabling human potential: Dynamic new approaches (pp. 223–247). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.1991, June). Measuring well-being is not easy. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, Washington, DC.
(2000). On the sins of short-form development. Psychological Assessment, 12, 102–111. doi 10.1037//1040-3590.12.1.102
(1999).
(Stress in time of reform . In R. VandenbergheM. HubermanEds., Understanding and preventing teacher burnout: A sourcebook of international research and practice (pp. 59–84). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.1998). Assessing measurement invariance in cross-national consumer research. Journal of Consumer Research, 25, 78–90. doi 10.1086/209528
(2006). Is extremely high life satisfaction during adolescence advantageous? Social Indicators Research, 78, 179–203. doi 10.1007/s11205-005-8208-2
(2005). Are there relationships between the dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory? A review and two longitudinal tests. Work & Stress, 19, 238–255. doi 10.1080/02678370500270453
(2013). Psychometric properties of the UK and Italian versions of the HSE Stress Indicator Tool: A cross-cultural investigation. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 29, 72–79. doi 10.1027/1015-5759/a000122
(2008). Relationships between burnout, sources of social support and sociodemographic variables. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 36, 603–616. doi 10.2224/ sbp.2008.36.5.603
(