Factor structure of the Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) measures grief responses.
• Certain GEQ responses are linked to grief following suicide, including shame and stigmatization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the GEQ.
• To determine the GEQ's applicability to suicide bereavement.

Main Methods:

• 350 university students who experienced the death of a significant other completed the GEQ.
• Principal components analysis with varimax rotation was used.

Main Results:

• An 8-factor solution with satisfactory psychometric properties was identified.
• The GEQ was confirmed as a multidimensional measure of grief phenomenology.

Conclusions:

• The GEQ demonstrates broad applicability in grief assessment.
• The revised GEQ shows particular relevance for suicide bereavement research and clinical applications.