Validation of the Perinatal Grief Scale for use in Chinese women who have experienced recent reproductive loss.
The primary objective of this research was to validate the short version of the Perinatal Grief Scale (SVPGS) in the Chinese population. The Chinese SVPGS was administered to a sample of Chinese women who had experienced recent reproductive loss (N = 314). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis rejected the original 3-factor model delineated by Potvin (1989). A follow-up exploratory factor analysis suggested an alternative 3-factor model, consisting of a 12-item Sense of Worthlessness subscale, a 7-item Social Detachment subscale, and a 7-item Painful Recollection subscale. Further analysis showed that both the original and Chinese SVPGS demonstrated good internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha equaled .86, .83, .90, and .95, respectively, for the three subscales of Active Grief, Difficulty Coping, and Despair, and the total original SVPGS, and .85, .93, .91, and .95, respectively, for the new subscales of Sense of Worthlessness, Social Detachment, and Painful Recollection, and the total Chinese SVPGS. Both versions demonstrated satisfactory correlations with the participants' psychological distress and spousal emotional support. The authors suggest that both versions are useful in measuring the responses of Chinese women to reproductive loss; the original SVPGS should be used for cross-cultural studies, whereas the Chinese SVPGS should be used for local studies.
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR. elsieyan@hkucc.hku.hk
Elsie
E
Yan
Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Catherine So-Kum
CS
Tang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Tony
T
Chung
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*