Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the long and short forms of the yearning in situations of loss scale in a Turkish sample

Background: Yearning, the intense longing for the deceased loved one, is a hallmark symptom of prolonged grief disorder. Objective: The aim of this study was to adapt the Yearning in Situations of Loss Scale (YSL) into Turkish and to examine the psychometric properties of its long (YSL) and short forms (YSL-SF). Method: Data were collected from 500 participants used for exploratory factor analysis and an additional 445 participants for confirmatory analyses. In the data analyses, construct validity was evaluated through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity evidence was examined. Internal consistency was evaluated using item–total correlations and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. In addition, item analysis was conducted to evaluate item difficulty and discrimination parameters. Furthermore, measurement invariance of the YSL-SF was tested between Turkish (N = 201) and American (N = 95) samples using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, and cross-cultural comparability of the construct was evaluated. Results: The findings provided evidence supporting the validity and internal consistency of the Turkish YSL and YSL-SF, both of which demonstrated a one-factor structure. The short form also showed measurement invariance across Turkish and American samples, supporting its suitability for cross-cultural comparisons. Conclusion: The Turkish versions of YSL and YSL-SF demonstrated good psychometric properties, supporting their use in the assessment of yearning following bereavement. This study provides the first psychometric adaptation of the Turkish Yearning in Situations of Loss Scale and its Short Form.Both the long and short forms showed strong psychometric performance, including validity and reliability, with the short form further supported by item discrimination analysis.The short form demonstrated preliminary cross-cultural comparability between Turkish and US bereaved adults. This study provides the first psychometric adaptation of the Turkish Yearning in Situations of Loss Scale and its Short Form. Both the long and short forms showed strong psychometric performance, including validity and reliability, with the short form further supported by item discrimination analysis. The short form demonstrated preliminary cross-cultural comparability between Turkish and US bereaved adults.