Psychometric properties of the Burnout Assessment Tool across four countries

BACKGROUND: The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) is a new burnout measure developed to replace the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Studies have supported the psychometric properties and cross-cultural measurement invariance of the BAT. However, some unresolved questions remain. These questions are the appropriate level of score interpretation, convergent validity with the MBI, and measurement invariance using sample groups from countries outside of Europe. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional survey approach to obtain 794 participants from Australia (n = 200), the Netherlands (n = 199), South Africa (n = 197), and the United States (n = 198). In brief, we used bifactor modelling to investigate the appropriate score interpretation and convergent validity with the MBI. Hereafter, we used the Rasch model and ordinal logistic regression to investigate differential item functioning. RESULTS: The bifactor model showed a large general factor and four small group factors, which suggests calculating and interpreting a general burnout score. This model further shows that the BAT and MBI measure the same burnout construct but that the BAT is a more comprehensive burnout measure. Most items fit the Rasch model, and few showed non-negligible differential item functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the psychometric properties and cross-cultural measurement invariance of the BAT in Australia, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States. Furthermore, we provide some clarity on the three previously mentioned unresolved questions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-023-15604-z.