Psychometric properties of an instrument measuring military morale through work engagement and burnout in the Estonian defense forces

Military morale is commonly understood as the level of enthusiasm and commitment among soldiers that supports effective performance in military settings. One clear definition describes morale as a shared sense of dedication to a common goal that unifies a group. This study examines the psychometric properties of the Estonian version of a military morale instrument, conceptualizing morale in relation to burnout and work engagement. Three instruments were employed: a direct question on self-reported morale, a six-item scale assessing motivation and enthusiasm for mission accomplishment, and a multidimensional scale covering dedication, vigour, cynicism, and emotional exhaustion. Psychometric analysis focused on the multidimensional scale, using data from 3,621 members of the Estonian Defence Forces. Confirmatory Factor Analysis tested factorial structure and assessed configural, metric, and scalar invariance across groups based on age, gender, language, survey wave, profession, residence, student status, and education. Results indicated that both a modified four-factor model (dedication, vigour, cynicism, exhaustion) and a two-factor model (morale and burnout) fit the data well, with acceptable invariance across groups. However, the vigour and cynicism dimensions showed insufficient reliability in some subsamples. Therefore, the two-factor model is recommended for research and screening purposes in the Estonian military context, while the four-factor model requires further refinement before practical use.