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A Turkish adaptation of the grief cognitions questionnaire: Factor analysis, reliability and validity

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Abstract

This study aims to adapt the Grief Cognitions Questionnaire (GCQ) in Turkish and examine its psychometric properties. The sample consisted of 675 participants who were 18 years and over, experienced a loss at least 6 months prior to survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the factor structure of the scale. A principal component factor analysis revealed six factors that explain 67.8% of the variance. These are negative cognitions about future after loss, negative/threatening interpretation of emotions and reactions to loss, negative cognitions about self after loss, negative cognitions about world after loss, cherish grief and negative cognitions about others after loss. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using AMOS v.23 to examine validity of the six-factor structure. It was revealed that the modified model fit the data better (χ2 = 1020.50, df = 386, p = .000; GFI = .85, CFI = .90, NFI = .85, RMSEA = .066, AGFI = .82). The Cronbach Alpha coefficient for the total GCQ was .97 and between .78 and .94 for subscales. Based on these findings, the Turkish version of the GCQ has sufficient psychometric properties and it can be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool in evaluating negative cognitions after loss. Since there is a limited number of studies on grief and the relative scarcity in terms of assessment tools, this study provides a significant contribution to the literature.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Paul A. Boelen for his valuable comments on the draft of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Psikoloji Bölümü, Sütlüce Mahallesi, İmrahor Cd. No:90, 34445, Beyoğlu, İstanbul, Turkey

    Gizem Cesur

  2. Ankara Üniversitesi DTCF Psikoloji Bölümü, Sıhhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayşegül Durak-Batıgün

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  1. Gizem Cesur
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  2. Ayşegül Durak-Batıgün
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Correspondence to Gizem Cesur.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

Gizem Cesur (Author 1) declares that she has no conflict of interest. Ayşegül Durak-Batıgün (Author 2) declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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Cesur, G., Durak-Batıgün, A. A Turkish adaptation of the grief cognitions questionnaire: Factor analysis, reliability and validity. Curr Psychol 40, 72–80 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9983-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9983-7

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