PSS-10 vs MBI β Everyday Stress or Job Burnout?
PSS-10 (Perceived Stress Scale, Cohen 1983) is the classic measure of how stressful you find life events over the past month β regardless of source. It focuses on three dimensions: sense of control, unpredictability, and overload. It works equally well for a student, a caregiver, and a corporate worker.
MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory) is job-specific. It measures three burnout dimensions: emotional exhaustion (I've had enough), depersonalization (I've stopped caring about clients/patients), and reduced personal accomplishment (nothing I do matters).
**Which one?** If stress comes from multiple life areas (health, relationships, finances, work) β PSS-10. If the source is clearly your job and you feel cynical about it β MBI. Both can be high at once (work overload often spills over), but the intervention differs: PSS-10 suggests recovery habits; MBI usually requires structural job changes.
When to use: Perceived Stress Scale β PSS-10 (10 items)
- Stress comes from multiple areas (health, finances, relationships)
- You want to benchmark your stress against population norms
- Short general measure (10 items, 3 min)
When to use: Burnout Assessment β Oldenburg Burnout Inventory
- You work in a demanding profession (healthcare, education, sales)
- You feel exhausted and your work has lost meaning
- Your cynicism toward clients/patients is growing
Not sure? Take both tests!