The Multidimensional Loss Scale: Validating a Cross-Cultural Instrument for Measuring Loss
Open accessAbstract
The Multidimensional Loss Scale (MLS) represents the first instrument designed specifically to index Experience of Loss Events and Loss Distress across multiple domains (cultural, social, material, and intrapersonal) relevant to refugee settlement. Recently settled Burmese adult refugees (N = 70) completed a questionnaire battery, including MLS items. Analyses explored MLS internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, and factor structure. Cronbach alphas indicated satisfactory internal consistency for Experience of Loss Events (0.85) and Loss Distress (0.92), reflecting a unitary construct of multidimensional loss. Loss Distress did not correlate with depression or anxiety symptoms and correlated moderately with interpersonal grief and trauma symptoms, supporting divergent and convergent validity. Factor analysis provided preliminary support for a five-factor model: Loss of Symbolic Self, Loss of Interdependence, Loss of Home, Interpersonal Loss, and Loss of Intrapersonal Integrity. Received well by participants, the new scale shows promise for application in future research and practice.
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Vromans et al. (2012) found that 98% of participants endorsed interpersonal grief (mean 2.97 on a 5-point scale) and 58% reported loss distress.
“Vromans et al. (2012) found that 98% of participants endorsed interpersonal grief (mean of 2.97 measured on a 5 point scale) and 58% of participants reported loss distress.”
From The assessment of grief in refugees and post-conflict survivors: a narrative review of etic and emic research (2018) · cites this paper as Vromans et al., 2012
The Multidimensional Loss Scale (MLS) is one of the first instruments designed specifically to index Experience of Loss Events and Loss Distress across multiple domains relevant to refugee settlement.
“The Multidimensional Loss Scale (MLS) (Vromans et al., 2012) is one of the first instruments designed specifically to index Experience of Loss Events and Loss Distress across multiple domains (cultural, social, material, and intrapersonal) relevant to refugee settlement.”
From The assessment of grief in refugees and post-conflict survivors: a narrative review of etic and emic research (2018) · cites this paper as Vromans et al., 2012
Assessed in recently settled Burmese adult refugees (N = 70), the MLS has five dimensions of loss: Loss of Symbolic Self, Loss of Interdependence, Loss of Home, Interpersonal Loss, and Loss of Intrapersonal Integrity.
“Assessed in recently settled Burmese adult refugees (N = 70) the scale has five dimensions of loss: Loss of Symbolic Self, Loss of Interdependence, Loss of Home, Interpersonal Loss, and Loss of Intrapersonal Integrity.”
From The assessment of grief in refugees and post-conflict survivors: a narrative review of etic and emic research (2018) · cites this paper as Vromans et al., 2012
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- Authors
- Vromans, L., Schweitzer, R. D., & Brough, M.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Vromans, Lyn
- Schweitzer, Robert D.
- Venue
- Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
- Published
- 2012-04
- Volume
- 200
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 349-357
- ISSN
- 0022-3018 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2322755757
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- purl.org
- Locations
- The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Australian Research Council (LP0776558)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- loss of home, interpersonal loss, refugee settlement, Burmese refugees, grief, trauma symptoms, scale development, psychometric validation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Australia, Myanmar, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Depression, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Refugees, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Young Adult
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