Are you at risk of burnout? Take the 23-question test devised by scientists to find out

Brief bursts of stress, exhaustion and disinterest are common in all jobs.

But how do you know you’re in danger of burning out from that same pressure?

Researchers in Norway have created a simple 23-question test that aims to reveal who is at risk.

He proof It prompts people to rate their feelings toward work from “never” to “always” through statements covering energy, motivation, and emotion levels.

More than a medical problem, burnout is a feeling of physical or mental exhaustion and is the body’s response to a long-lasting, demanding situation, the researchers said.

For some people, burnout can be stopped by adjustments that relieve work pressures, such as reducing workload, taking annual leave, and prioritizing sleep.

But others may struggle for years if the root cause is not addressed.

There is no single international test used to assess burnout, and doctors use different questionnaires that use different metrics.

This led a team at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, led by Leon De Beer, associate professor of work and organizational psychology, to create a new burnout assessment tool to detect those suffering early symptoms.

They reviewed 12 existing tests as part of the process and narrowed their questionnaire down to 23 statements with multiple-choice answers ranging from “never” to “always.”

The statements were divided into four different areas, including burnout (‘I lack energy to start a new day at work), mental distancing (‘I feel indifferent to my work’), cognitive impairment (‘I am forgetful and distracted). at work’). ) and emotional deterioration (“I get angry or sad at work without knowing why”).

Burnout is then rated on a scale from “very low” to “very high” based on responses from other people in that person’s country.

To test whether the tool worked, the researchers recruited 493 workers, with an average age of 45, who completed it.

The results showed that 12.9 percent of volunteers were at high risk of burnout, which is believed to be lower than in other EU countries as the nation has a better work-life balance, according to the researchers.

They said the test works across cultures and genders, but does not provide a formal diagnosis or medical advice.

Those concerned about work-related stress should visit a doctor, they added.

The team concluded that feeling mentally exhausted, struggling to show enthusiasm, difficulty concentrating, and unintentionally overreacting, consistently over a period of weeks, are hallmarks of burnout.

They said identifying early signs before they have gone too far is key to reducing the risk of harmful knock-on effects, such as cardiovascular disease, joint pain, sleep problems and depression.

Researchers are now testing the tool in more than 30 countries, which will reveal which nations have the highest prevalence of burnout.

Mr De Beer said: “Our studies show that BAT (the name of the test) is a good tool for identifying risk of burnout.”

The tool can identify who requires the most urgent care to reduce the risk of burnout, the team said.

Professor Marit Christensen, professor of work and organizational psychology, added: “We can address burnout through individual treatment.”

‘But it is of little use if people return to a workplace where the demands are too high and there are few resources.

«In that case, it is very likely that the employee will get sick again.

“Therefore, it is important to create good working conditions and structures that protect the health of employees.”