Development and initial validation of the job loss grief scale

Abstract

Background: Research on complicated grief (CG) symptoms following job loss is surprisingly rare. Involuntary job loss can turn someone's world upside down and can result in loss of identity, social contacts, and selfworth. In this study, we drew on the literature on major life events in conceptualizing involuntary job loss as a significant and potentially devastating life event. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an instrument that measures job loss-related CG symptoms, the Job Loss Grief Scale (JLGS). The purpose of the JLGS is to foster systematic research on CG symptoms following job loss. Design: A cross-sectional study Methods: We recruited Dutch workers who had lost their job, 130 men and 158 women with an average age of 49.6 years. To examine the psychometric properties of the JLGS and its associations with other concepts we conducted correlational and confirmatory factor analyses. Results: CFA revealed that the JLGS was a one-dimensional instrument, and that CG symptoms were distinguishable from depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The JLGS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure job loss-related CG symptoms. The availability of the JLGS could stimulate systematic research on the antecedents and consequences of involuntary job loss.

Complicated grief following job loss: Risk factors for its development and maintenance

“…Job loss grief scale (JLGS). The JLGS was used to measure job lossrelated CG symptoms (Van Eersel et al, 2019). Participants were instructed to keep the loss of their job in mind and to rate the extent to which they had experienced the listed thirty-three symptoms on a 5-point scale (1 = "never," 5 = "always").…”

Reciprocal relations between symptoms of complicated grief, depression, and anxiety following job loss: A cross‐lagged analysis

“…In general, these grief symptoms decrease over time. However, in some persons they remain and evolve into symptoms of complicated grief (CG; Papa & Lancaster, 2016; Van Eersel, Taris, & Boelen, 2019). Research on job loss‐related CG symptoms is sparse and predominantly based on cross‐sectional data.…”

“…CG symptoms following job loss can co‐occur with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Even though there is an overlap in symptoms between CG, depression, and anxiety, factor‐analytic studies have shown that these symptoms form distinguishable concepts (Papa & Maitoza, 2013; Van Eersel et al, 2019). Still little is known about whether and how symptoms of CG, depression, and anxiety following job loss influence each other over time.…”

“…Research on the relationship between job loss‐related CG symptoms and anxiety is scarce as well. Some studies have shown that these concepts represent theoretically as well empirically distinct phenomena (Archer & Rhodes, 1993; Papa & Maitoza, 2013; Van Eersel et al, 2019). None of these studies explored the possible reciprocal associations between CG and anxiety symptoms related to involuntary job loss.…”

“…In the present study, we build on prior studies pointing out that job loss‐related CG, depression, and anxiety symptoms are distinguishable (e.g., Papa & Maitoza, 2013; Van Eersel et al, 2019), to examine the order in which these symptoms influence each other, using cross‐lagged analysis. We used data from participants who completed questionnaires measuring job loss‐related CG, depression, and anxiety symptoms within the first year after their involuntary job loss and again 6 months later.…”