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.

Psychometric evaluation and validation of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale for the Spanish-speaking population: PSAS-ES.

OBJECTIVE: The transition to motherhood is a period of risk for the development of mood disorders. Postpartum anxiety has not been as thoroughly studied as other emotional disorders despite its impact on mothers and their babies. The absence of standardized programmes for early detection and specific tools for its diagnosis means postpartum anxiety is often underestimated or overshadowed. This study aimed to translate and validate the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale [PSAS] for the Spanish population and to analyse its reliability as an exploratory tool for specific anxiety in mothers. METHOD: Four stages were followed in this research: translation and back-translation to obtain the Spanish version [PSAS-ES]; preliminary pilot study to explore the comprehensibility and ease of responding the items (n = 53); convergent validity analyses (n = 644); and test-retest reliability (n = 234). RESULTS: The PSAS-ES has shown to have good acceptability, convergent validity and high internal consistency with a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.93 for the overall scale of PSAS. The four factors had good reliability. The results of test-retest was 0.86, indicating excellent stability over time in the first 16 weeks. CONCLUSION: The psychometric results show that the PSAS-ES is a valid tool to explore and detect anxiety in Spanish mothers between 0 and 16 weeks postpartum.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical and Mental Health in China and Spain: Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Differences in physical and mental health impact across continents during the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the levels of impact of COVID-19 on mental health among people from Spain and China and correlated mental health parameters with variables relating to symptoms similar to COVID-19, COVID-19 knowledge, and precautionary measures. METHODS: We collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms, contact history with persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 knowledge, and precautionary measures. Participants completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21). To analyze the differences in the mental health parameters, the mean scores between Chinese and Spanish respondents were compared using the independent samples t test. The differences in categorical variables between the two samples were analyzed by the chi-square test. Linear regression was used to calculate the univariate associations between the independent variables and mental health parameters for both groups separately, with adjustments made for age, gender, and education. RESULTS: A total of 1528 participants (Spain: n=687; China: n=841) were recruited. The mean age of the Chinese respondents was 24.73 years (SD 7.60; range 18-65 years), and the mean age of the Spanish respondents was 43.06 years (SD 11.95; range 18-76 years). Spanish participants reported significantly more symptoms similar to COVID-19 infection (eg, fever, sore throat, and breathing difficulties), contact history with COVID-19, higher perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, frequent use of medical services, and less confidence in medical services compared with their Chinese counterparts (P<.001). Spanish participants reported significantly higher DASS-21 stress and depression scores, while Chinese participants reported significantly higher IES-R scores (P<.001). Chinese participants encountered more discrimination from other countries (P<.001). Significantly more Chinese participants reported using face masks than Spanish ones (P<.001). More exposure to health information was associated with adverse mental health in Spain (depression: P=.02; anxiety: P=.02; stress: P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that Spanish respondents reported higher levels of stress and depression as well as more symptoms and use of medical services. In preparation for the next pandemic, Spain needs to establish a prompt policy to implement rapid response and enhance medical services to safeguard physical and mental health.

Transition Trajectories: Contexts, Difficulties and Consequences Reported by Young Transgender and Non-Binary Spaniards.

The transition process can have a significant impact on young transgender and non-binary individuals (TNBI), especially regarding their mental health. As such, this study aimed to explore the encountered difficulties and expectations of 225 young adults, between 14 and 25 years old, who identify themselves as TNBI. Four different aspects were analyzed: difficulties related to the transition process; main current difficulties; if the current difficulties are due to the participants' sexual orientation or gender identity; and if participants feel the need of changing something in their lives. Several obstacles either before, during or after the transition process were identified; and these obstacles have serious consequences in TBNI's mental health. Questions regarding legislation, discrimination, transphobia, lack of social support, the pathologization of transgenderism, low self-esteem, anxiety symptomatology, among others, were pointed out by the participants. The narratives collected and analyzed in the present study appear as important inputs to the literature, which can be translated into the basis of further investigations and the improvement of professional practices in the health field.

Influence of feminine gender norms in symptoms of anxiety in the Spanish context / Influencia de las normas de género femeninas en síntomas de ansiedad en el contexto español

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether conformity with a traditional female role is related to the presence of anxiety symptoms in a sample of women (N = 234). To do so, symptoms of anxiety were evaluated through the Inventory of Situations and Responses of Anxiety (ISRA; Miguel-Tobal, & Cano-Vindel, 2002) and compliance with feminine gender roles was measured through the Inventory of Conformity to Feminine Norms (CFNI; Mahalik et al., 2005). Our results showed that higher levels of Cognitive Anxiety in women are related to higher compliance with the Thinness, Sexual Fidelity and Investment in Appearance dimensions of the CFNI. Also, a significant relationship was found between Total Anxiety and the Thinness dimension of the CFNI. These results suggest that some variables related to gender are related to anxiety responses, and that this relationship could occur through different interactions among cognitive variables

El propósito de este estudio es evaluar si la conformidad con los roles femeninos tradicionales se relaciona con la presencia de síntomas de ansiedad en una muestra de mujeres (N = 234). Para ello, se evaluaron los síntomas de ansiedad a través del Inventario de Situaciones y Respuestas de Ansiedad (ISRA; Miguel-Tobal, & Cano-Vindel, 2002) y la aceptación de las normas de género femeninas se midió mediante el Inventario de Conformidad con las Normas de Género Femeninas (CFNI; Mahalik et al., 2005). Nuestros resultados mostraron que los niveles más altos de Ansiedad Cognitiva en las mujeres se relacionan con una mayor conformidad en las dimensiones de Delgadez, Fidelidad Sexual e Inversión en Apariencia del CFNI. Además, se encontró una relación significativa entre la Ansiedad Total y la dimensión de Delgadez del CFNI. Estos resultados sugieren que algunas variables relacionadas con el género están relacionadas con las respuestas de ansiedad, y que esta relación podría ocurrir a través de diferentes interacciones entre las variables cognitivas

Salud, ansiedad y autoestima en mujeres de mediana edad cuidadoras y no cuidadoras / No disponible

El objetivo del estudio es analizar las diferencias en salud física en diferentes grupos de mujeres según su situación laboral: cuidadoras formales, informales, trabajadoras fuera de casa no cuidadoras y amas de casa. Se seleccionaron como participantes a 308 mujeres de más de 46 años. Los resultados indican que las mujeres cuidadoras informales informan de peor salud que las mujeres trabajadoras; aunque no hay diferencias en salud entre los dos tipos de cuidadoras. Aparece en salud entre dos tipos de cuidadoras. Aparece una relación significativa y con tamaños del efecto moderado-altos entre ansiedad y salud física (evaluado por las dolencias) en mujeres cuidadoras frente a no cuidadoras. Con respecto a la autoestima, las mujeres cuidadoras puntúan significativamente más bajo 8tamaño del efecto alto) con respecto a los otros grupos. La conclusión es que en las mujeres, el hecho de cuidar parece afectar a la salud (medido a través del número de dolencias físicas), independientemente de la situación específica del hecho de cuidar, cuando se las compara con otras mujeres (AU)

The aim of this study is to analyse variations in physical health among different groups of women according to their work situation: formal or informal caregivers, women employed outside the home who are not carers, and housewives. Three hundred and eight middle class women, over the age of 46, were chosen to take part in this study. Findings show that informal caregivers reported worse health than workers ; there are no differences in health between the two types of careers. There is a significant correlation with a moderate to high effect size between anxiety and physical health (measured according to number of physical complaints) in female caregivers versus non caregivers. Regarding self-esteem, there are significant differences in self-esteem between caregivers and the other two participating groups, with significantly lower leves in the former and high effect sizes. The conclusion is that, in the case of women, care giving seems to have a negative effect on health (measured according to number of physical complaints), regardless of where the specific caring takes place, when compared to other women who are not carers (AU)

Trait anxiety and self-rated health as predictor variables of medical attention in Spanish population

Understanding the factors that affect medical service use is a relevant task with a view to providing improved health services. The goal of the present study was to analyze the effect of self-rated health and trait anxiety in the prediction of the general prevalence of visits to a doctor and of frequent attenders (Fas) in a sample of Spanish population. The participants, 1001 adults randomly selected form Spanish population, reported the number of visits to primary care and specialized attention services during the past year. The general prevalence of visits was 70,7% with a mean of 4.11 visits per year. Good self-rated health was associated with a lower prevalence of visits, whereas participants with high trait anxiety were 2.26 items as likely to use health services. With regard to Fas, worse self-rated health and high trait anxiety were significant predictors of visits to a doctor, even after controlling for the effect of diverse sociodemographic variables. Our results add evidence of the significance of psychological variables when accounting for the use of medical services and reveal the importance of attending to the psychological needs of users who frequently visit a doctor (AU)

Comprender los factores que afectan al uso de los servicios médicos es una tare relevante de cara a mejorar la provisión de los servicios sanitarios. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar el efecto de la salud percibida y el rasgo de ansiedad en la predicción de la prevalencia general de visitas así como de los visitadores frecuentes (FAS) en una muestra de población española. Los participantes, 1001 adultos de nacionalidad española seleccionados de forma aleatoria, informaron el número de visitas que realizaron a los servicios de atención primaria y especializada en el último año. La prevalencia general de visitas fue de un 70,7%, con una media de 4.11 visitas por año. Una alta salud percibida de asoció con una menor prevalencia de visitas, mientras que las personas con un algo rasgo de ansiedad tuvieron una probabilidad 2.26 veces mayor de acudir a los servicios sanitarios. En cuanto a los FAS, una peor salud percibida así como un alto rasgo de ansiedad se mostraron como predictores significativo incluso tras controlar el efecto de diferentes variables socio-demográficas. Nuestros resultados añaden evidencias acerca de la importancia de las variables psicológicas a la hora de explicar el uso de los servicios médicos y señalan la importancia de atender las necesidades psicológicas de aquellos usuarios que los visitan con mayor frecuencia (AU)