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Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Anxiety | Research

Psychometric evaluation of the postpartum specific anxiety scale in an Iranian population (PSAS-IR)

Authors: Robab Hasanzadeh, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Shirin Hasanpour, Victoria Fallon, Sergio A. Silverio, Reyhane Montazeri, Mojgan Mirghafourvand

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders among mothers during the postpartum period, which can lead to maternal and infant physical and psychological consequences. The Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS) predicts unique variance in postnatal outcomes over and above general anxiety tools. It has never been used in Iran and its validity and reliability have not been assessed either. Therefore, the present study aimed to translate and investigate the psychometric properties of the PSAS-IR.

Methods

510 women, from six weeks to six months postpartum, were selected through random sampling in 2020. After forward and back-translation, the face validity, content validity, and construct validity of PSAS (through confirmatory factor analysis) were examined. The reliability of the scale was assessed using both internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and test-retest stability methods.

Results

CVI and CVR values of the PSAS tool were 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. The good fit indices confirmed the validity of four-factor structure. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Intra Correlation Coefficient (ICC) equaled 0.93 and 0.92, respectively.

Conclusion

The Persian version of PSAS is a valid and reliable four-factor scale, it will improve the measurement of postpartum anxiety in an Iranian setting. This will improve the measurement of postpartum anxiety in an Iranian setting.
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Metadata
Title
Psychometric evaluation of the postpartum specific anxiety scale in an Iranian population (PSAS-IR)
Authors
Robab Hasanzadeh
Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi
Shirin Hasanpour
Victoria Fallon
Sergio A. Silverio
Reyhane Montazeri
Mojgan Mirghafourvand
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Anxiety
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04085-w

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