Factorial structure of the persistent complex bereavement inventory: Testing a hierarchical factor model

The present study examined the validity of deriving a global or general measure of grief from the Persistent Complex Bereavement Inventory using an online survey of 180 bereaved adults. Confirmatory factor analyzes indicated that a hierarchical factor structure best fit the data such that an overarching, general grief factor accounted for the covariation among three first-order symptom clusters. The construct validity of this grief factor was further supported by correlations with related variables such as negative religious coping, neuroticism, meaning-made, and post-traumatic growth. These findings are consistent with DSM-5 and support the commonly used total scale score approach.