Christina Maslach warns against trivializing burnout term

Psychologist Christina Maslach, a pioneer in burnout research and creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), warns that the term is being trivialized. During a visit to Brazil, she emphasized that burnout is a response to prolonged exposure to workplace stressors rather than an individual failure. The MBI model identifies three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion, cynicism or professional detachment, and reduced professional efficacy.

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified burnout in the ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical condition or mental illness. Maslach argues that the focus should shift from ‘fixing’ the employee to addressing the work environment, specifically looking at workload, control over tasks, recognition, rewards, community, and fairness.

In Brazil, research highlights a gap in mental health support. According to the AXA Mind Health Report 2026, while 88% of Brazilian professionals would participate in employer-led mental health programs, 46% do not feel comfortable discussing their problems at work. Concerns include privacy and fear of career repercussions, with 16% of respondents fearing for their job security.