Development and initial validation of the job loss grief scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Grief Studies

Background:

• Involuntary job loss significantly impacts identity, social connections, and self-worth.
• Research on complicated grief (CG) symptoms specifically related to job loss is limited.
• Job loss is conceptualized as a major, potentially devastating life event.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the Job Loss Grief Scale (JLGS).
• To provide a tool for systematic research on CG symptoms following job loss.
• To differentiate job loss-related CG from other psychological distress.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• Recruited 288 Dutch workers (130 men, 158 women, average age 49.6) who experienced job loss.
• Employed correlational and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to assess psychometric properties.

Main Results:

• Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the JLGS as a one-dimensional instrument.
• Complicated grief symptoms were found to be distinct from symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• The JLGS demonstrated good reliability and validity.

Conclusions:

• The Job Loss Grief Scale (JLGS) is a reliable and valid measure for assessing complicated grief symptoms post-job loss.
• The JLGS can facilitate systematic investigation into the causes and effects of involuntary job loss.
• This scale can advance research in occupational psychology and grief studies.