Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure – SMBM
Measures the three core dimensions of work-related burnout: physical fatigue, cognitive weariness, and emotional exhaustion.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure – SMBM was developed by Arie Shirom, Samuel Melamed (1989). It is designed to measure Burnout. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Physical Fatigue, Cognitive Weariness, Emotional Exhaustion.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Fatigue | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Cognitive Weariness | 7,8,9,10,11 | 5 |
| Emotional Exhaustion | 12,13,14 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never or almost never, 2 = Very infrequently, 3 = Quite infrequently, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Quite frequently, 6 = Very frequently, 7 = Always or almost always.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Burnout: 1 – 2
- Moderate Burnout: 2 – 3
- High Burnout: 3 – 7
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.