THIS CONTENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology - read more

A new tool can identify those at risk of burnout. A simplified version can be found at the bottom of this article.

Identifying people at risk of burnout

A new tool has been developed to identify the early warning signs of burnout. 

journalist
Presented by: NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Published

It is not uncommon for people to encounter a breaking point at work, leading to burnout for short or long periods of time.

“We have found that approximately 13 per cent of Norwegian employees are at high risk of burnout,” says Leon De Beer, associate professor at NTNU’s Department of Psychology.

De Beer has contributed to a new study on burnout published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology with colleagues from the Healthy Workplaces research group.

Burnout

A common definition of burnout is:

A work-related state of exhaustion that occurs among employees. The condition is characterised by extreme fatigue, reduced ability to regulate cognitive and emotional processes, and mental distancing.

They are working on a new tool that can identify people at risk of burnout.

Signs that you might be at risk of burnout

If you are facing demands and stress at work that seem to unsolvable to you, and you have frequently experienced the following symptoms in recent weeks, it might be a sign that you are on the verge of burning out:

  1. You feel mentally exhausted at work.
  2. You struggle to feel enthusiastic about your job.
  3. You have trouble concentrating when working.
  4. You sometimes overreact at work without meaning to.
Sometimes it just becomes too much.

Early intervention is key

It is important to identify the early signs of burnout in order to mitigate the harmful effects. The warning signs are often present before things have gone too far, as long as we manage to identify them.

Leon De Beer.

“Not addressing the risk of employee burnout in time can have long-term consequences,” says De Beer.

The physical and psychological effects of burnout include cardiovascular diseases, pain related to musculoskeletal injuries, sleeping problems, and depression. Organisations can also lose talented employees and experience an increase in sickness absence and lost productivity.

A new tool may become standard

De Beer’s research group has trialled a new measurement tool to identify the early warning signs of burnout. In the past, it has not always been that easy.

“Previously, we have not had a detailed enough measurement tool for use in both the field of practice and research that identifies workers who are at risk of burnout,” says De Beer.

There is currently no international standard for assessing burnout.

The new tool is called the Burnout Assessment Tool, or BAT among researchers who have a penchant for amusing abbreviations. The BAT consortium, of which the researchers are a part, is now testing the instrument in more than 30 countries.

“Our studies show that BAT is a good tool for identifying the risk of burnout,” he says.

Risk factors

The following increase the risk of burnout:

  • Being a young employee or new to the job.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Unrealistically high expectations.
  • Avoidance through the use of intoxicants, medication, or food to cope with the situation.
  • Lack of opportunity to influence decisions that affect your work.
  • Unclear job expectations.
  • Dysfunctional dynamics in the workplace (for example, bullying or conflicts).
  • Imbalance between effort and reward.
  • Rapid institutional change.
  • If your values do not align with those of the workplace.
  • If the job you have does not suit your interests and qualifications.
  • Work–life imbalance.
  • Lifestyle factors can also play a role.
  • Long working hours, lack of sleep and lack of exercise.
  • Lack of support from others.

(Source: Norsk helseinformatikk (Norwegian Health Informatics))

Burnout is the body’s response to stress

BAT measures four main groups of risk factors: exhaustion, mental distancing, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment.

Burnout is not really an illness, but a feeling of being mentally or physically exhausted – the body’s response to a lasting, demanding situation. 

Burnout is normally defined as a work-related syndrome, but there is evidence that work–life balance also plays a role. Stress and burnout do not necessarily stop when you go home at the end of the day, as these effects often extend into other areas of life and vice versa.

Some may experience years of burnout

For some people, burnout can be stopped in its tracks and solutions found to improve their situation. 

For others, however, burnout can last for years if the problem is not addressed.

“We can deal with burnout through individual treatment, but it's of little use if people return to a workplace where the demands are too high and there are few resources," says Professor Marit Christensen at NTNU’s Department of Psychology. 

It is then highly likely that the employee will become ill again. 

"Therefore, it is important to create good working conditions and structures that safeguard the health of employees,” she says. 

Studied 500 workers

The researchers studied a representative sample of 500 Norwegian workers. Norway is roughly on par with the EU average when it comes to mental health, but somewhat better when it comes to work-related matters.

A lower percentage of the Norwegian population struggles with exhaustion in connection with work. Somewhat fewer people than the EU average report health hazards at work, and Norwegians experience a better work–life balance.

“Using a recognised method, we found that around 13 per cent of the 500 surveyed workers were at high risk of burnout,” Christensen says.

The tool can help identify who requires the most urgent follow up so that the risk of burnout can be reduced.

Marit Christensen.

Uncertain whether Norwegian numbers are high

We do not yet know whether the prevalence of burnout in Norway is high in an international context. The Norwegian study is among several BAT studies that are currently taking place, so these answers will be available at a later date.

The tool is intended to be culturally independent, and it certainly works well in Norway. The researchers also found that the tool works regardless of gender.

“For entertainment and educational purposes, interested parties can use our online tool to test if they are at risk of burnout,” Christensen says.

The tool can be found here.

“Please note that the tool only gives an indication of risk and does not provide any type of formal diagnosis or medical advice. If you are concerned about your levels of work-related stress, we encourage you to visit a health care provider to discuss the matter,” says Christensen.

Reference: 

De Beer et al. The psychometric properties of the Burnout Assessment Tool in Norway: A thorough investigation into construct-relevant multidimensionality, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2023. DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12996

More content from NTNU:

diseases burnout psychology ntnu partner health
Powered by Labrador CMS