Measurement invariance alignment of the burnout assessment tool (BAT-12) across 29 countries and six continents

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the 12-item burnout assessment tool (BAT-12) among 29,433 working adults from 29 countries across six continents. We employed a bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling specification with both fixed and free alignment methods. Across all parameters (loadings and thresholds), 92.62% were invariant. Across the countries, 91.09% of the item intercepts/thresholds and 95.69% of general-factor item loadings were invariant. The specific factor loadings were also highly invariant: mental distance 99.14%, exhaustion 89.94%, emotional impairment 92.53%, and cognitive impairment 91.95%, indicating evidence for the cross-national measurement invariance of the BAT-12. Furthermore, we also illustratively report the means for the cross-country comparisons which showed differences in latent global burnout scores according to this study’s samples. The evidence for validity shows that the BAT-12 reliably captures a global burnout dimension from the symptom-factor indicators of its four core symptoms, underscoring the BAT-12’s robust psychometric properties across diverse cultural contexts. Practically, the BAT-12 offers a more concise instrument for monitoring burnout complaints in multinational settings, guiding managers, occupational health professionals, and researchers in developing and evaluating burnout prevention and intervention strategies.