Divergent and Convergent Validation of the Complicated Grief Prototype Narrative

ABSTRACT

Although there is a prototype narrative for complicated grief (CG), there are neither divergent nor convergent validity studies of its clinical value. We evaluated the CG prototype narrative using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Clinical Interview for Complicated Grief Diagnosis. We first conducted a convergent validation analysis followed by a divergent validation analysis. Results showed that participants with CG identified significantly more with the complicated grief prototype narrative than participants without CG.

KEYWORDS:

• Complicated grief
• prototype
• narrative
• qualitative validation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Virgiana Sousa

Virgiana Sousa conducts research at UnIPSa (research unit of psychology and health), CESPU, and is a clinical psychologist. Her research specializations are complicated grief, quantitative research, and narrative qualitative research.

Mónica de Sá

Mónica de Sá conducts research at UnIPSa (research unit of psychology and health), CESPU, and is a clinical psychologist. Her research specializations are traumatic stress, narrative qualitative research, and complicated grief.

José Carlos Rocha

José Carlos Rocha is an auxiliary professor of clinical psychology and the coordinator of the UnIPSa research unit at CESPU, Portugal. His research specializations are narrative psychotherapies, empirical validation of psychological interventions, perinatal losses, traumatic stress, and grief.