Psychometric Properties, Stability, and Predictive Validity of the Hindi Version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale (PG-13-R-H) Among Hindi-speaking Adults in the United States.

Background: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) significantly impacts individuals following bereavement, particularly under conditions of sudden loss and disrupted mourning. Despite Hindi being one of the most widely spoken languages, no validated PGD assessment tool has existed for Hindi speakers. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Hindi version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder-13 Revised Scale (PG-13-R-H) among Hindi-speaking adults in the United States for screening and secondary monitoring. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 527 Hindi-speaking adults residing in the United States who had experienced bereavement. Participants completed the PG-13-R-H, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha, and validity was evaluated using Pearson correlations and a multi-trait-multimethod matrix (MTMM). Results: The PG-13-R-H demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.75). Overall, 15.6% of participants met diagnostic thresholds for PGD. COVID-19-related deaths were reported by 41.7% of the sample, and 88.6% had experienced an unexpected loss-both strong risk factors for PGD. Convergent validity was supported by correlation with depressive symptoms (PHQ-9; r = .23, p < .001), while discriminant validity was supported by a non-significant correlation with well-being (WEMWBS; r = -.05, p = .34). Findings also highlighted the impact of diaspora mourning contexts, where disruptions in family-based rituals and limited support systems may intensify grief among Hindi-speaking Americans. Conclusions: The PG-13-R-H is a reliable, valid, and culturally sensitive tool for assessing PGD among Hindi-speaking Americans. This study emphasizes the importance of language-specific and contextually informed assessment tools to identify at risk individuals in diasporic communities, where pandemic-related disruptions and limited support systems may heighten vulnerability to prolonged grief.