The Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ): development and evaluation

Abstract

BackgroundChildbirth is a challenging and emotive experience that is accompanied by strong positive and/or negative emotions. Memories of birth may be associated with how women cognitively process birth events postpartum and potentially their adaptation to parenthood. Characteristics of memories for birth may also be associated with postnatal psychological wellbeing. This paper reports the development and evaluation of a questionnaire to measure characteristics of memories of childbirth and to examine the relationship between memories for birth and mental health.MethodsThe Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ) was developed by generating items from literature reviews and general measures of memory characteristics to cover dimensions relevant to childbirth. Fifty nine items were administered to 523 women in the first year after childbirth (M = 23.7 weeks) as part of an online study of childbirth. Validity of the final scale was checked by examining differences between women with and without probable depression and PTSD.ResultsPrincipal components analysis identified 23 items representing six aspects of memory accounting for 64% of the variance. These were: Emotional memory, Centrality of memory to identity, Coherence, Reliving, Involuntary recall, and Sensory memory. Reliability was good (M alpha = .80). Women with probable depression or PTSD reported more emotional memory, centrality of memories and involuntary recall. Women with probable depression also reported more reliving, and those with probable PTSD reported less coherence and sensory memory.ConclusionThe results suggest the BirthMARQ is a coherent and valid measure of the characteristics of memory for childbirth which may be important in postnatal mood and psychopathology. While further testing of its reliability and validity is needed, it is a measure capable of becoming a valuable tool for examining memory characteristics in the important context of childbirth.

Measuring women’s childbirth experiences: a systematic review for identification and analysis of validated instruments

“…Attempts have been made to adapt and test psychometric properties [87, 88] before Fawcett and Knauth [23] in 1995 adapted the scale further and made an exploratory factor analysis. The scale needs further tests of its psychometric properties.The Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire/BirthMARQ [30]Foley et al (2014)UKTo examine the relationship between memories of birth and postnatal mood and psychopathology.Developed to measure characteristics of memories of childbirth and to examine the relationship between memories for birth and mental health including emotional and traumatic memories. With further testing of reliability and validity this questionnaire could become a useful tool both in research as well as in clinical practice [30].…”

“…The scale needs further tests of its psychometric properties.The Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire/BirthMARQ [30]Foley et al (2014)UKTo examine the relationship between memories of birth and postnatal mood and psychopathology.Developed to measure characteristics of memories of childbirth and to examine the relationship between memories for birth and mental health including emotional and traumatic memories. With further testing of reliability and validity this questionnaire could become a useful tool both in research as well as in clinical practice [30]. The Support and Control in Birth Questionnaire/SCIB [25]Ford et al (2009)UKTo measure support and control in birth.Focuses on different dimensions of control during childbirth.…”

Characteristics of memories for traumatic and nontraumatic birth

“…Characteristics of memories for birth were measured using the BirthMARQ (Foley et al, ). This scale was developed specifically to measure the characteristics of memories for birth.…”

“…The few studies that have done so have included clinical samples and focused on differences in birth memory characteristics between mothers with and without PTSD symptoms. For example, Foley, Crawley, Wilkie, and Ayers () developed the Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire (BirthMARQ) specifically to measure the characteristics of birth memories and examine differences between women with and without PTSD. Results showed women with PTSD reported more negative and mixed emotional memories, involuntary recall, centrality of the memories to their identity, and less coherent or sensory memories.…”

Birth after emergency caesarean section: Women’s perspectives on the factors influencing their decision making

“…They included healthcare students with professional insight into service-user decision making, which potentially affected their responses. For some participants the decision was made many years previously, with recall ability and time lapse potentially limiting accuracy and relevance to the current professional practice and experiences of women in the UK (Foley, Crawley, Wilkie, & Ayers, 2014). Similarly, respondents were asked to discuss a decision for which they knew the outcome; hindsight is recognised as impacting upon recollection (Fessel, Epstude, & Roese, 2009).…”