Abstract
This study describes the development and the preliminary validation of the Family Caregiver Anticipatory Grief Clinical Interview (FcAG-CI). This instrument, conceptually based in Adult Attachment Theory, evaluates Anticipatory Grief response patterns of cancer family caregivers; semistructured interviews were conducted in a sample of family caregivers in palliative care (n = 72, mostly women, adult children, or spouses, mean age of 52.37) and coded according to the rating guidelines. FcAG-CI, composed of eight domains, shows convergent and concurrent validity with self-reported predeath prolonged grief disorder symptoms as well as divergent validity with the Zarit Burden Interview. The tests for reliability suggest that it has reasonable consistency (Cronbach’s α = .750) and very good interrater reliability. Two factors were identified, corresponding to the two major sources of distress: traumatic and relational aspects of end-of-life caregiving. This instrument, allows the categorization of respondents in four different profiles (Avoidant, Adjusted, Traumatic, and Intense Anticipatory Grief), with clear implications for clinical practice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
