A multifaceted psychometric evaluation of the Continuing Bonds Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Grief research
• Bereavement studies

Background:

• Continuing bonds, or ongoing emotional connections with the deceased, are central to modern grief theory.
• However, the measurement of this construct has been largely underexplored in empirical research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Continuing Bonds Scale.
• To assess the scale's reliability and validity in a sample of individuals bereaved by the loss of a romantic partner.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the scale's factor structure.
• Item response theory and network analyses were employed to examine item functioning, dimensionality, and redundancy.
• Measurement invariance was tested across different groups and contexts.

Main Results:

• Several items on the scale demonstrated poor performance and were subsequently removed.
• The revised scale showed some improvement but still had suboptimal overall model fit.
• The scale's ability to adequately capture the continuing bonds construct was questioned.

Conclusions:

• Existing measures, including the Continuing Bonds Scale, may inadequately capture the continuing bonds construct.
• There is a need to reconsider the conceptualization and measurement of continuing bonds in grief research.
• Further refinement of assessment tools is necessary for accurate grief research.