Published in:
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.