Burnout Assessment Tool
The BAT, Burnout Assessment Tool, is the latest diagnostic tool to identify your level of risk of burnout. It builds on the previous MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) developed 40 years ago with 2 new aspects: emotional and cognitive impairment.
The team at KU Leuven University* created 2 versions of the BAT: BAT-12 and BAT-23. We have the BAT-23 available, including assessment against the 4 key aspects.
You can complete the simpler BAT-12 and calculate your scores using this PDF.
BAT Assessment FAQs
1. What is the BAT assessment?
The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) is a self report questionnaire to measure burnout. The BAT was developed at KU Leuven University* using a combination of a deductive (theoretical) and an inductive (empirical) approach.
The tool looks at 4 aspects of burnout – exhaustion, mental distancing, emotional impairment and cognitive impairment.
2. Does the BAT provide a diagnosis?
The BAT should not be used diagnosing burnout. It is a measure to assess burnout complaints and is based on a self-assessment. Therefore, it is not a diagnosis.
It is also only a measure of burnout complaints, not the causes or consequences of burnout. It does not make a differential diagnosis.
3. Why use this assessment tool?
Sometimes, employees (individuals) are not aware they are setting themselves up to reach burnout. Other times, people give socially desirable answers because they are afraid of the consequences if they are honest.
This tool allows individuals and organisations to understand how burnout may be relating to them, the team, the organisation. It provides insights to inform actions.
As noted in the Scientific Manual for the BAT, "It can be a valuable tool to use in the individual assessment process for estimating the individual’s level of burnout symptoms." Manual BAT - Version 2.0, p. 124
4. How does this tool work?
The test is taken online, allowing the participant to choose a time and place that best suits them. The BAT-12 usually takes less than 4 minutes to complete. Following completion of the assessment you will get your numeric score and commentary around your score. This will provide insights into possible areas where action can be taken, allowing the problem to be tackled at the root and as early as possible.
5. What is the difference between the BAT-12 & BAT-23?
The properties of the shortened version and full BAT are similar and technically the shortened version can be used just as well as the full version, especially when used for benchmarking.
The full version is better for individual assessments and for screening purposes with the aim of identifying those who are at risk of burnout.
*Schaufeli, W.B., De Witte, H. & Desart, S. (2020). Manual Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) – Version 2.0. KU Leuven, Belgium.
The Burnout Assessment Tool does not provide a diagnosis. The scores do not attempt to reflect a prognosis or course of treatment. Instead, the assessment is a tool to help assess burnout potential using a series of questions. If you have concerns about your health, well-being or mental health, please consult your medical doctor.