📊 Detailed Scoring Guide
1. Scoring Method:
The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory uses a frequency-based rating system. Each question has 5 response options with different point values:
| Response Option |
Points |
Description |
| Always / To a very high degree |
100 |
Maximum frequency/intensity |
| Often / To a high degree |
75 |
High frequency/intensity |
| Sometimes / Somewhat |
50 |
Moderate frequency/intensity |
| Seldom / To a low degree |
25 |
Low frequency/intensity |
| Never/almost never / To a very low degree |
0 |
Minimal or no occurrence |
2. Score Calculation for Each Scale:
Scale Score = (Sum of all item scores in that scale) / (Number of items in scale)
Personal Burnout (6 items):
- Items assessed: Fatigue, physical exhaustion, emotional exhaustion, feeling worn out, feeling weak, needing time to recover
- Score range: 0-100
- Formula: Sum of 6 items ÷ 6
Work-related Burnout (7 items):
- Items assessed: Work exhaustion, frustration with work, feeling drained, feeling burned out, energy for family/friends, work as strain, working with people as strain
- Score range: 0-100
- Formula: Sum of 7 items ÷ 7
Client-related Burnout (6 items):
- Items assessed: Finding work with clients/patients hard, energy for clients, frustration with clients, feeling worn out, questioning work significance, giving more than receiving
- Score range: 0-100
- Formula: Sum of 6 items ÷ 6
3. Interpretation Guidelines:
| Score Range |
Level |
Interpretation |
| 0-34 |
Low |
Minimal burnout symptoms; healthy functioning |
| 35-49 |
Moderate |
Some burnout symptoms; monitor and implement preventive strategies |
| 50-74 |
High |
Significant burnout; intervention recommended |
| 75-100 |
Severe |
Critical burnout levels; immediate professional help advised |
4. Worked Example:
Personal Burnout Example (6 items):
- Item 1: "How often do you feel tired?" → Often (75 points)
- Item 2: "How often are you physically exhausted?" → Sometimes (50 points)
- Item 3: "How often are you emotionally exhausted?" → Often (75 points)
- Item 4: "How often do you feel worn out?" → Sometimes (50 points)
- Item 5: "How often do you feel weak?" → Seldom (25 points)
- Item 6: "Are you exhausted in the morning?" → Sometimes (50 points)
Calculation: (75 + 50 + 75 + 50 + 25 + 50) ÷ 6 = 325 ÷ 6 = 54.2
Result: Score of 54.2 indicates High Personal Burnout
5. Clinical Cut-off Points (Research-based):
- Personal Burnout: Score ≥50 indicates high burnout
- Work-related Burnout: Score ≥50 indicates high burnout
- Client-related Burnout: Score ≥50 indicates high burnout
6. Understanding Your Results:
- Personal Burnout reflects general physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion
- Work-related Burnout reflects the degree of physical and psychological fatigue related to work
- Client-related Burnout reflects fatigue and exhaustion specifically related to work with clients/patients/students
- You can have high burnout in one area without having it in others
- Different patterns suggest different intervention strategies
7. Important Notes:
- This is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument
- Scores ≥50 warrant further professional evaluation
- The inventory is validated across multiple occupational groups
- Client-related burnout is only relevant for those working directly with people
- Repeated assessments can track changes over time
8. Research Context:
The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was developed as an improvement over the Maslach Burnout Inventory, with better psychometric properties and broader applicability. It has been validated in multiple countries and occupational groups, showing strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha typically 0.85-0.90) and validity.
Key differences from other burnout measures:
- Uses frequency-based rather than agreement-based responses
- Separates personal, work-related, and client-related dimensions
- More applicable across diverse occupations
- Free to use for research and clinical purposes