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Open Access 01-12-2021 | COVID-19 | Research article

A validation of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale 12-item research short-form for use during global crises with five translations

Authors: Sergio A. Silverio, Siân M. Davies, Paul Christiansen, Marta E. Aparicio-García, Alessandra Bramante, Ping Chen, Natalia Costas-Ramón, Carolina de Weerth, Anna M. Della Vedova, Lilliam Infante Gil, Hellen Lustermans, Jaqueline Wendland, Jihong Xu, Jason C. G. Halford, Joanne A. Harrold, Victoria Fallon

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

Abstract

Background

Global crises inevitably increase levels of anxiety in postpartum populations. Effective and efficient measurement is therefore essential. This study aimed to create a 12-item research short form of the 51-item Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale [PSAS] and validate it for use in rapid response research at a time of global crises [PSAS-RSF-C]. We also present the same 12-items, in five other languages (Italian, French, Chinese, Spanish, Dutch) to increase global accessibility of a psychometric tool to assess maternal mental health.

Methods

Twelve items from the PSAS were selected on the basis of a review of their factor loadings. An on-line sample of UK mothers (N = 710) of infants up to 12 weeks old completed the PSAS-RSF-C during COVID-19 ‘lockdown’.

Results

Principal component analyses on a randomly split sample (n = 344) revealed four factors, identical in nature to the original PSAS, which in combination explained 75% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analyses (n = 366) demonstrated the four-factor model fit the data well. Reliability of the overall scale and of the underlying factors in both samples proved excellent.

Conclusions

Findings suggest the PSAS-RSF-C may prove useful as a clinical screening tool and is the first postpartum-specific psychometric scale to be validated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This offers psychometrically sound assessment of postpartum anxiety. By increasing the accessibility of the PSAS, we aim to enable researchers the opportunity to measure maternal anxiety, rapidly, at times of global crisis.

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Title: A validation of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale 12-item research short-form for use during global crises with five translations
Authors: Sergio A. Silverio
Siân M. Davies
Paul Christiansen
Marta E. Aparicio-García
Alessandra Bramante
Ping Chen
Natalia Costas-Ramón
Carolina de Weerth
Anna M. Della Vedova
Lilliam Infante Gil
Hellen Lustermans
Jaqueline Wendland
Jihong Xu
Jason C. G. Halford
Joanne A. Harrold
Victoria Fallon
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: COVID-19
Anxiety
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03597-9

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

A validation of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale 12-item research short-form for use during global crises with five translations

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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