Assessment and associated features of prolonged grief disorder among Chinese bereaved individuals

Abstract

Background: Most research on the assessment and characteristics of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has been conducted in Western bereaved samples. Limited information about PGD in Chinese samples exists. This study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Inventory of Complicated grief (ICG), examine the distinctiveness of PGD symptoms from symptoms of bereavement-related depression and anxiety, and explore the prevalence of PGD in a Chinese sample.

Methods: Responses from 1358 bereaved Chinese adults were collected through an on-line survey. They completed the Chinese version of ICG and a questionnaire measuring depression and anxiety symptoms.

Results: The findings indicate that Chinese ICG has sound validity and high internal consistency. The ICG cut-off score for PGD "caseness"in this large Chinese sample was 48. The distinctiveness of PGD symptoms from those of depression and anxiety was supported by the results of the confirmatory factor analysis and the fact that PGD occurred in isolation in the studied sample. The prevalence of PGD was13.9%.

Conclusion: ICG is a valid instrument for use in the Chinese context. Several key characteristics of PGD in Chinese, either different from or comparable to findings in Western samples, may stimulate further research and clinical interest in the concept by providing empirical evidence from an large and influential Eastern country.