OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Two Track Model of Bereavement Questionnaire (TTBQ-T) (Rubin et al. 2009), a-70 items questionnaire for comprehensively evaluating the process of bereavement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The questionnaire was initially translated from English into Turkish, and then back translated. Subsequently, it was administered to 205 bereaved individuals that lost a significant other within the last 5 years. In order to assess the questionnaire's validity, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were also administered to the participants. The factor structure, total reliability, and test-retest reliability of the TTBQ-T were evaluated.

RESULTS

Factor analysis yielded results that were, for the most part, similar with those yielded by the original study; however, there were some cross loading items that yielded a 5-factor solution (Relational active grieving, Close and positive Relationship with the Deceased, Traumatic perception of the loss, Conflictual relationship with the deceased and Social Dysfunction). Cronbach's Alpha coefficients for these 5 factors were 0,91, 0,88, 0,82, 0,78 and 0,65 respectively. In order to determine if the responses were loaded under 2 tracks, a higher order factor analysis was conducted. The relationships between BDI and IES-R, and TTBQ-T total scores were examined in order to determine the construct validity of the TTBQ-T. The present findings indicate that TTBQ-T has construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that TTBQ-T is a reliable and valid the questionnaire for use in Turkey. The findings are discussed in the light of the literature.