Psychology RootsThe Texas Revised Inventory of Grief
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About The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief
Scale Name
The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief
Author Details
Faschingbauer, R., DeVaul, R., and Zisook, S.
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG) is one of the most widely utilized tools in bereavement research and clinical assessment for evaluating the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses associated with grief. Originally developed in the 1970s, the TRIG was designed to improve earlier grief measurement instruments by incorporating a clearer, more empirically grounded structure for assessing bereavement outcomes. It evaluates both current grief intensity and past grief experiences, providing a comprehensive picture of how individuals have adjusted to loss over time.
The TRIG is divided into two primary sections: Past Grief (reactions immediately following the loss) and Present Grief (current emotional adjustment and lingering distress). This dual-section structure allows clinicians and researchers to track changes in grief responses and distinguish between acute grief, prolonged grief, and adaptive adjustment. Items measure sadness, longing, emotional pain, difficulty coping, preoccupation with the deceased, and disruptions in daily functioning.
Because grief is a deeply personal and culturally influenced experience, the TRIG offers a standardized yet sensitive way to assess bereavement outcomes across diverse populations. It is frequently used in mental health settings, hospice care, grief counseling, and longitudinal bereavement studies. The scale is brief, easy to administer, and supported by strong psychometric evidence, making it a valuable tool for identifying individuals experiencing complicated or persistent grief reactions.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the copy: Secure the authorized version of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief from published academic sources or validated instrument repositories.
- Explain the purpose: Inform the respondent that the scale measures emotional and behavioral responses related to the loss of a significant person, both past and present. Emphasize that the purpose is understanding their grief reactions, not judging or evaluating coping ability.
- Provide instructions: Ask participants to respond to each item based on their personal experience, using the Likert-type scale provided. Responses should reflect their honest feelings regarding both the initial period after the loss and their current state.
- Approximate time: The TRIG typically requires 5–8 minutes to complete.
- Administer the scale:
- Provide the questionnaire in paper or digital form in a supportive, private environment.
- Allow the respondent to complete the items independently.
- Score items according to standardized scoring guidelines (higher scores reflect greater grief intensity).
- Interpret scores within clinical context to determine levels of acute grief, present grief, or prolonged grief risk.
Reliability and Validity
The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief has demonstrated strong reliability and validity across various studies. Internal consistency coefficients for both Past and Present Grief subscales are generally high, often exceeding 0.80, indicating excellent reliability. Test–retest reliability has also been reported as strong, confirming stability of responses over time when grief levels remain unchanged.
Validity studies show robust construct validity, with TRIG scores correlating in expected directions with measures of depression, anxiety, bereavement distress, and social functioning. The TRIG has been shown to differentiate between individuals experiencing normative grief and those demonstrating clinical features of complicated grief or persistent complex bereavement disorder. Factor analytic studies support the two-factor structure (Past and Present Grief), reinforcing the scale’s theoretical and empirical soundness.
Available Versions
Multiple-Items
Reference
Faschingbauer, T. R. (1981). The Texas revised inventory of grief.
Holtslander, L. F. (2011). Depressive symptoms, grief, and complicated grief among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer three months into bereavement. In Oncology nursing forum (Vol. 38, No. 1, p. 60). Oncology Nursing Society.
Montano, S. A., Lewey, J. H., O’Toole, S. K., & Graves, D. (2016). Reliability generalization of the Texas revised inventory of grief (TRIG). Death studies, 40(4), 256-262.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What does the TRIG measure?
It measures both past and present grief reactions to assess intensity, adjustment, and persistence of bereavement-related emotional responses.
Q2: Who can use the TRIG?
Mental health professionals, counselors, researchers, and medical practitioners working with individuals who have experienced a significant loss.
Q3: Is the TRIG a diagnostic tool?
No. It is a screening and assessment tool, not a diagnostic instrument, but it helps identify those at risk for complicated grief.
Q4: How many items are in the TRIG?
The scale consists of 21 items, divided into Past Grief and Present Grief subscales.
Q5: Can it be used with recent or long-past losses?
Yes. Its structure allows assessment of initial grief reactions and current adjustment, making it applicable across different timeframes.
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