16-item alternative burnout measure with exhaustion and disengagement subscales. ≈ 5 min to complete. Free with attribution.
OLBI (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 16-item alternative burnout measure with exhaustion and disengagement subscales.. It is most often used for 16-item alternative burnout measure with exhaustion and disengagement subscales.. The instrument contains 16 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 5 min.
Source / attribution: Free to use with citation
16-item alternative burnout measure with exhaustion and disengagement subscales. OLBI is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, OLBI is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 16 items below to see your OLBI score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 4-point scale (4–1). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Two subscales (8 items each) scored 1-4. Exhaustion and Disengagement each range 8-32.
Scoring notes: Two subscales (8 items each) scored 1-4. Exhaustion and Disengagement each range 8-32.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 8–16 | Low burnout | None |
| 17–24 | Moderate burnout | Consider intervention |
| 25–32 | High burnout | Active treatment |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I always find new and interesting aspects in my work | Strongly disagree | 1 |
| 2 | There are days when I feel tired before I arrive at work | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 3 | It happens more and more often that I talk about my work in a negative way | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 4 | After work, I tend to need more time than in the past in order to relax and feel better | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 5 | I can tolerate the pressure of my work very well | Strongly disagree | 1 |
| 6 | Lately, I tend to think less at work and do my job almost mechanically | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 7 | I find my work to be a positive challenge | Disagree | 2 |
| 8 | During my work, I often feel emotionally drained | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 9 | Over time, one can become disconnected from this type of work | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 10 | After working, I have enough energy for my leisure activities | Disagree | 2 |
| 11 | Sometimes I feel sickened by my work tasks | Strongly agree | 1 |
| 12 | After my work, I usually feel worn out and weary | Agree | 2 |
| 13 | This is the only type of work that I can imagine myself doing | Disagree | 2 |
| 14 | Usually, I can manage the amount of my work well | Strongly disagree | 1 |
| 15 | I feel more and more engaged in my work | Disagree | 2 |
| 16 | When I work, I usually feel energized | Strongly disagree | 1 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + … (items 9–16 sum to 12) = 21
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 21 falls between 17 and 24 → Moderate burnout
Moderate burnout. Consider intervention
A score is one input alongside history and examination. OLBI supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If OLBI doesn't fit your context, related instruments in self-efficacy include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSE | 10-item measure of general confidence in ability to cope with difficult demands in life. | 10 | ≈ 2 min |
| WSAS | 5-item simple measure of impaired functioning at work, home, and socially. | 5 | ≈ 1 min |
| MBI-GS | 16-item measure of burnout in occupational settings with three subscales. | 16 | ≈ 5 min |
| PHQ-9 | Severity of depression | 9 | ≈ 3 minutes |
| GAD-7 | Severity of generalized anxiety | 7 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| AUDIT | 10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
OLBI (Oldenburg Burnout Inventory) is a validated instrument that assesses 16-item alternative burnout measure with exhaustion and disengagement subscales.. Its primary clinical use is 16-item alternative burnout measure with exhaustion and disengagement subscales..
OLBI typically takes ≈ 5 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.
OLBI contains 16 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 25–32 fall in the "High burnout" band. Active treatment
Scores of 8–16 fall in the "Low burnout" band. None
OLBI has reported Cronbach's α of 0.84 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.78. Validated across multiple occupations and countries.
OLBI is free to use with attribution. Free to use with citation
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Vardakou, I., & Kantas, A. (2003). The convergent validity of two burnout instruments. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 19(1), 12-23.
No. OLBI is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
OLBI is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: