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

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.

Postpartum specific anxiety in a French population: Validation of the French version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale [PSAS-FR].

PURPOSE: This study aims to validate the Postpartum-Specific-Anxiety-Scale (PSAS) as a French-language instrument, which assesses maternal and infant-related anxieties during the postpartum period. DESIGN AND METHODS: The methodology included six stages: preliminary French translation; selection of most articulate items and back-translation; rectification of discrepancies; pilot study (n = 257); reliability and validity studies (n = 258; n = 874); and test-retest reliability study (n = 231). FINDINGS: The PSAS-FR demonstrated good acceptability, high internal consistency of the global scale (Cronbach's α = 0.93), and each of the factors; along with good validity, and test-retest reliability. The receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested a satisfactory screening tool. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The PSAS-FR appears to be a valid and reliable tool to screen for postpartum anxieties in the French-speaking population.