Psychometric properties of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS)

Preis, Heidi; Mahaffey, Brittain; Lobel, Marci

doi:10.1080/0167482x.2020.1801625

Cited by 69 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…Pandemic‐related pregnancy stress was assessed using the Pandemic‐Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS)—a novel instrument that was recently validated in the United States 32 and several other countries 34‐36 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The COVID‐19 pandemic has added to the pregnancy‐specific stress that expectant mothers are experiencing. Pandemic‐related pregnancy stress is a particular type of pregnancy‐specific stress that focuses on two main concerns related to being pregnant during the pandemic: preparedness concerns and perinatal infection concerns 31,32 . Preparedness stress refers to feeling unprepared for the birth and postpartum period because of pandemic‐related restrictions, such as not being able to exercise and eat well, concerns about not receiving adequate prenatal care because of the pandemic, and not being able to receive help in the postpartum period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of pandemic‐related pregnancy stress in preference for community birth during the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States

Preis

Mahaffey

Lobel

2021

Birth

Self Cite

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Background The COVID‐19 pandemic introduced unparalleled uncertainty into the lives of pregnant women, including concerns about where it is the safest to give birth, while preserving their rights and wishes. Reports on the increased interest in community births (at home or in birth centers) are emerging. The purpose of this project was to quantitatively investigate psychological factors related to this birth preference. Methods This study included 3896 pregnant women from the COVID‐19 Pregnancy Experiences (COPE) Study who were anticipating a vaginal birth. COPE Study participants were recruited online between April 24 and May 15, 2020, and completed a questionnaire that included preference with respect to place of birth and psychological constructs: fear of childbirth, basic beliefs about birth, pandemic‐related preparedness stress, and pandemic‐related perinatal infection stress. Results Women who preferred a community birth, on average, had less childbirth fear, had stronger beliefs that birth is a natural process, were less likely to see birth as a medical process, and were less stressed about being unprepared for birth and being infected with COVID‐19. In multivariate models, higher stress about perinatal COVID‐19 infection was associated with greater likelihood of preferring a community birth. The effect of perinatal infection stress on preference was stronger when preparedness stress was high. Discussion Women's birth preferences during the COVID‐19 pandemic are associated with psychological processes related to risk perception. Community births are more appealing to women who view being in a hospital as hazardous because of the pandemic. Policies and prenatal care aimed to increase access to safe in‐hospital and out‐of‐hospital birth services should be encouraged.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of pandemic‐related pregnancy stress in preference for community birth during the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States

Preis

Mahaffey

Lobel

2021

Birth

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…A major strength of this study is that, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first postpartum-specific psychometric scale to be validated for use during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and in being so, is also one of the first perinatal psychometric tools to be validated in the current crisis, with others including the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale [47]. This means postpartum anxiety can be effectively measured during this pandemic, and similar global crises in the future.…”

Section: Strengths Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Silverio

Davies

Christiansen

et al. 2021

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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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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“…Two studies assessed pandemic-related stress experienced by pregnant women using the new instrument, the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS). This questionnaire assesses preparedness stress, perinatal infection stress and positive appraisal [56].…”

Section: General Characteristics Of the Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perinatal Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review and Implications for Clinical Practice

Suwalska

Napierała

Bogdański

et al. 2021

JCM

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The COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented to decelerate its spread have consequences for mental health of societies. The aim of our review was to analyze depressive and anxiety symptoms in perinatal women. The search used PubMed and Web of Science databases. Most studies showed an increase in the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Risk factors identified in our study were mainly related to the possibility of COVID-19 infection, changes in the organization of perinatal care, social isolation and financial problems. Protective factors included social support, the woman’s own activity and knowledge about COVID-19. The results of our study point to the importance of the mental health screening including suicide risk assessment in perinatal women. Much of the mental health needs of perinatal women can be met in primary or perinatal care services; however, women with mental health issues should be offered psychiatric consultations and psychological support, and sometimes urgent psychiatric hospitalization is necessary. Healthcare professionals should provide information addressing uncertainty about COVID-19, organization of midwifery and medical care as well as mental health problems and how to get help. Mental health interventions in pregnant women may involve planning physical activity and encouraging to engage in online social activities.

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Psychometric properties of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS)

Cited by 69 publications

References 19 publications

The role of pandemic‐related pregnancy stress in preference for community birth during the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States

The role of pandemic‐related pregnancy stress in preference for community birth during the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States

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

Perinatal Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review and Implications for Clinical Practice

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