Adaptation and validation of the “Continuing Bond Scale” in an Italian context. An instrument for studying the persistence of the bond with the deceased in normal and abnormal grief

The study presents the Italian validation of the questionnaire Continuing Bonds Scale (CBS) by Field and Filanosky (2010). The questionnaire consists of two scales: Externalized (6 items) and Internalized (10 items) and was completed by 414 people who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a two-factor model, 16 items solution (KMO = .928, χ 2 = 2694.84, df = 120, p < .001). Confirmatory Factor Analyses indicated that the two-factor solution provided a better fit to the data (CFI = .935; TLI = .925; RMSEA = .063). The factors demonstrated good internal reliability. The study shows that CBS has good psychometric properties for clinical use.