Exploratory factor analysis of the caregiver grief inventory in a large UK sample of dementia carers

Abstract

Objectives

Anticipatory grief (AG) is the process of experiencing loss prior to the death of a significant person. Coping with this multifaceted experience in the context of dementia caregiving is a relatively novel, yet significant area in caregiving literature. The Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory (MM-CGI) and its abbreviated MM-CGI-Short-Form (MM-CGI-SF) is the most widely used scale measuring AG. However, limited research has employed robust analytical strategies to assess its dimensional structure. This study employed contemporary factor analytical techniques to assess the dimensional structure of the MM-CGI/SF.

Method

Caregivers of persons with dementia (n = 508) completed a survey containing MM-CGI/SF and other associated psychological measures. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to compare eight alternative factor analytical models to determine the optimal model. Internal-consistency reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s α and construct validity was assessed by Spearman’s correlation-coefficient.

Results

The best fitting model was the MM-CGI-SF three factor model (Personal Sacrifice and Burden, Heartfelt Sadness and Longing and Worry and Felt Isolation). The MM-CGI-SF three factor model demonstrated internal consistency reliability and factor correlations with associated psychological measures indicated construct validity.

Conclusion

The MM-CGI-SF three factor model demonstrated adequate fit and utility, however, the Worry and Felt Isolation subscale needs further replication and revision to assess its dimensionality. The MM-CGI-SF is the more useful tool due to its brevity and better model fit.

Keywords:

• Anticipatory grief
• contemporary analytic techniques
• burden
• family members

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Professor Thomas M. Meuser for providing the original scales, Join Dementia Research, Young Dementia UK & the participants for taking part in this research.

Disclosure statement

We have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

No financial support was received for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.