Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Caregiver Grief Inventory in a Large UK Sample of Dementia Carers

Jane  Gilsenan; Colin Gorman; M Shevlin

doi:10.1080/13607863.2020.1839856

Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Caregiver Grief Inventory in a Large UK Sample of Dementia Carers

Jane Gilsenan, Colin Gorman, M Shevlin

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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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	320-327
Number of pages	7
Journal	Aging and Mental Health
Volume	26
Issue number	2
Early online date	5 Nov 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1839856
Publication status	Published online - 5 Nov 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
While grief is a part of common language and universal in nature it is a relatively novel construct in dementia caregiving literature despite its undoubted relevance. Approximately 700,000 family and friends are dementia carers in the UK (Alzheimer’s Research UK, ). These family members provide a wide range of care and support ranging from the most basic of assistance to full responsibility for all personal needs. They are fundamental to the quality of life of care-recipients and essential to the fabric of our society in an aging population. Their value is supported by the NICE-recommended dementia care pathway, which endorses offering caregiver assessments and intervention/s for their emotional, psychological and social needs (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, ; NICE guideline, ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Anticipatory grief
burden
contemporary analytic techniques
family members
Gerontology
Psychiatry and Mental health
Geriatrics and Gerontology
Phychiatric Mental Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "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{\textquoteright}s α and construct validity was assessed by Spearman{\textquoteright}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, burden, contemporary analytic techniques, family members, Gerontology, Psychiatry and Mental health, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Phychiatric Mental Health",

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note = "Funding Information: While grief is a part of common language and universal in nature it is a relatively novel construct in dementia caregiving literature despite its undoubted relevance. Approximately 700,000 family and friends are dementia carers in the UK (Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Research UK, ). These family members provide a wide range of care and support ranging from the most basic of assistance to full responsibility for all personal needs. They are fundamental to the quality of life of care-recipients and essential to the fabric of our society in an aging population. Their value is supported by the NICE-recommended dementia care pathway, which endorses offering caregiver assessments and intervention/s for their emotional, psychological and social needs (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, ; NICE guideline, ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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doi = "10.1080/13607863.2020.1839856",

language = "English",

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AU - Gorman, Colin

AU - Shevlin, M

N1 - Funding Information: While grief is a part of common language and universal in nature it is a relatively novel construct in dementia caregiving literature despite its undoubted relevance. Approximately 700,000 family and friends are dementia carers in the UK (Alzheimer’s Research UK, ). These family members provide a wide range of care and support ranging from the most basic of assistance to full responsibility for all personal needs. They are fundamental to the quality of life of care-recipients and essential to the fabric of our society in an aging population. Their value is supported by the NICE-recommended dementia care pathway, which endorses offering caregiver assessments and intervention/s for their emotional, psychological and social needs (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, ; NICE guideline, ). Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2020/11/5

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N2 - 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.

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Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Caregiver Grief Inventory in a Large UK Sample of Dementia Carers

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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