The COVID-19 burnout scale: Development and initial validation (preprint)

ABSTRACT

We developed and validated a self-assessment instrument to measure COVID-19 pandemic-related burnout in the general population. We assessed the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 burnout scale (COVID-19-BS). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified three factors for the COVID-19-BS; emotional exhaustion, physical exhaustion, and exhaustion due to measures against the COVID-19. Cronbach alpha coefficients for the three factors and the COVID-19-BS ranged from 0.860 to 0.921. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was 0.945 and p-value for Bartlett test was <0.001 indicating highly acceptable values. Convergent validity results indicated a significant positive correlation between COVID-19-BS and anxiety and depression. Known-groups analysis identified the ability of COVID-19-BS to discriminate groups according to gender, chronic condition, and health status. Our findings indicate that the final 13-item model of COVID-19-BS is a brief, easy to administer, valid and reliable scale for assessing COVID-19-related burnout in the general public.