Your OLBI results: what exhaustion and disengagement scores mean and what to do next
Your OLBI results describe how you answered about your work. A higher exhaustion score points to a draining load. A higher disengagement score points to distance from the work. Neither is a diagnosis, and the right next step depends on the pattern and on what is happening in your job. [1][2]
What should I do after I get a result?
Read the two scores together, then look at your job, not only at yourself. Ask what changed in the last year: workload, team, manager, role, or pay. Then choose one action. The table gives a starting point. The links go to practical help on this site.
| If this stands out | Look at | A first step |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaustion | Workload, hours, and recovery. Demands were the main link to exhaustion in the original research. [4] | Log a week of work, and try a shutdown routine. |
| Disengagement | Support, feedback, control, reward, and fit with your values. Missing resources were the main link to disengagement. [4] | Talk to your manager about what is missing. |
| Both | The whole picture, and your health. | Talk to someone and consider seeing a GP. [7] |
| Neither | Whether the questions miss something that matters to you. | Trust your own sense of how things are. |
Does a high score mean I have burnout?
No. A high score means you answered in a way that describes more exhaustion or disengagement than a lower score would. Burnout, as the WHO defines it, is a syndrome from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, and it is an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition. [2] A questionnaire cannot establish that.
It is still worth taking seriously. Whatever the label, exhaustion that does not lift is a reason to talk to someone.
Can a low score rule out a problem?
No. The OLBI does not ask about everything that matters, and it does not include the WHO's third sign, reduced professional efficacy. [2][3] If you feel unwell despite a low score, trust that and talk to a doctor. The same is true if sleep, mood, or health are changing.
How should I compare scores over time?
Use the same version, the same convention, and the same frame, such as answering about your current job. A change of a few points can be within normal variation, and there is no agreed threshold for a meaningful change that we could verify, so look at the direction over several months and what changed at work. Keep notes about what was happening each time.
What could I bring to a conversation?
You do not need to share a score. Many people find it more useful to describe patterns and effects. For example: "For the last [time] I have felt drained before the day starts and I have started to care less about the work. I would like to talk about what is behind it." If you do share a result, say what it is, a questionnaire about how you answered, and what you would like to do about it.
Where can I find support?
If stress is hard to manage, the NHS suggests seeing a GP, and says that in England adults can refer themselves to NHS talking therapies. [7] In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health suggests seeking professional help when symptoms interfere with everyday life, and lists the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate distress. [8] findahelpline.com lists services by country.
Common questions
I scored high on exhaustion but low on disengagement. What does that mean?
It is one of the four patterns in the reading aid: drained but still invested. Look at workload and recovery before the commitment wears down. It is not a diagnosis. [4]
Should I share my OLBI result with my employer?
That is your choice. Describing what is happening, such as hours, deadlines, or tasks, is usually more useful than a number. See our guide on talking to your manager about workload.
Sources and further reading
These links open external research and health-information websites.
- LuriaLab: Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) test page
Sixteen items, two subscales, instant scoring statement, age 18+, disclaimers, and citation. Read on 24 October 2026. - World Health Organization: Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon" (2019)
ICD-11 definition of burn-out; not classified as a medical condition. - Maslach and Leiter (2016): Understanding the burnout experience. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103-111
Notes that the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory assesses two dimensions, and discusses measurement and diagnosis. - Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner, and Schaufeli (2001): The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 499-512
Study of 374 workers: demands linked mainly to exhaustion, lack of resources mainly to disengagement. Abstract-level details only; full text not opened. - NovoPsych: Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI)
A commercial publisher's description of items, scoring ranges, its own cut-offs, and reliability figures it cites. Read on 24 October 2026. - SciELO: Oldenburg Burnout Inventory validation in Brazil (Ciencia & Saude Coletiva)
Describes the original 16-item structure, four-point agreement scale, balanced wording, and how the authors reversed items. Portuguese-language article read on 24 October 2026. - NHS: Get help with stress
Signs of stress, when to see a GP, and urgent help routes in the UK. - NIMH: I'm so stressed out! Fact sheet
When to seek professional help, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States. - HSE: What are the Management Standards?
The six areas of work design that affect stress.
This page is educational. A questionnaire score cannot establish a diagnosis or explain the cause of your symptoms. If you are struggling, speak with a doctor or mental health professional, whatever your score. Read when to get help for work stress or find a helpline in your country.