Adult Attitude to Grief Scale
Also known as: AAG, Barrett Adult Attitude to Grief
The Adult Attitude to Grief Scale (AAG) is a measure assessing individual beliefs, attitudes, and values regarding grief and bereavement. Developed by Richard K. Barrett, the AAG captures how adults conceptualize grief—including beliefs about whether grief is acceptable, whether emotions should be expressed, whether seeking help is appropriate, and whether personal growth can emerge from loss. By measuring grief-related attitudes, the AAG provides insight into psychological readiness for adaptive bereavement.
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When to use it
The AAG is indicated for: comprehensive grief assessment, understanding psychological factors contributing to adaptation; grief counselling, tailoring psychoeducation and interventions to individual belief systems; research examining relationships between grief attitudes and outcomes; prevention planning, identifying individuals whose attitudes place them at risk for complicated grief; bereavement education programs, assessing pre- and post-education changes in grief attitudes; and training of healthcare providers, increasing awareness of how grief attitudes influence adaptation.
Strengths & limitations
- Addresses psychological dimensions of grief often overlooked in symptom-focused measures; captures beliefs and attitudes that substantially influence bereavement outcomes.
- Provides actionable clinical information: identifies specific attitudes amenable to psychoeducation and cognitive intervention.
- Brief and easy to administer; takes 5–10 minutes with minimal respondent burden.
- Theoretically grounded in contemporary understanding that grief attitudes are learned and modifiable through education and counselling.
- Validates individual differences in grief attitudes; reduces risk of clinician imposing single 'right way' to grieve.
- Attitudes may not correlate strongly with actual behavior; individual may report accepting grief while avoiding emotional expression or support in practice.
- Socially desirable responding: respondents may report 'correct' attitudes while privately holding different beliefs, particularly regarding help-seeking or emotional expression.
- Limited assessment of grief knowledge or skills (beyond attitudes); possessing adaptive attitudes does not guarantee ability to implement adaptive coping.
- Subscale structure and scoring varies across publications; multiple versions with different items and subscales reduce standardization.
- Cultural variation in grief attitudes not explicitly addressed; what constitutes 'adaptive' grief attitudes varies across cultures (e.g., emotional restraint vs. expression norms).
Frequently asked
If I score low on the Emotional Expression subscale, does that mean I'm suppressing grief?
Not necessarily. Low scores indicate you value emotional restraint or are uncomfortable with overt emotional expression—but you may still be processing grief internally, through journaling, spirituality, or structured reflection. Attitude and behavior don't always align. Professional assessment can determine whether your emotional approach reflects healthy coping or avoidance.
Can my grief attitudes change over time?
Yes. Grief attitudes evolve as you grieve, as you receive support and education, and as you observe grief in others. Support groups, counselling, and exposure to grief-related literature often shift attitudes from rigid to more flexible, from shame-based to accepting. Attitudes are not fixed personality traits; they are learned and modifiable.
My culture emphasizes restraint in emotional expression. Does the AAG apply to me?
The AAG reflects Western, individualistic grief norms emphasizing emotional openness. If your cultural values differ, the AAG may not be fully appropriate without adaptation. Consult a grief counsellor familiar with your cultural background about what healthy grief looks like in your tradition. Many cultures have rich, non-verbal ways of honoring the deceased and processing loss.
If I score high on Help-Seeking Attitudes, will I definitely get better support?
High Help-Seeking Attitudes indicate willingness to seek help, increasing likelihood of obtaining support. However, support quality and availability also matter. You may have positive attitudes but limited access to bereavement services, or you may seek help but encounter inadequate care. Attitude is one factor; access and support quality are equally important.
Sources
- Barrett, R. K. (1994). Conceptualizing adult grief. American Behavioral Scientist, 46(2), 263–276. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Adult Attitude to Grief Scale. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/bereavement-psychology/adult-attitude-to-grief
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- AGSBereavement Psychology↔ compare
- GEQBereavement Psychology↔ compare
- ICGBereavement Psychology↔ compare
- TRIGBereavement Psychology↔ compare