Assessment of anxiety during pregnancy: are existing multiple anxiety scales suitable and comparable in measuring anxiety during pregnancy?. (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adhikari, Kamala; Patten, Scott B.; Williamson, Tyler; Patel, Alka B.; Premji, Shahirose; Tough, Suzanne; Letourneau, Nicole; Giesbrecht, Gerald; Metcalfe, Amy
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics & gynaecology. Volume 42:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 146
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Anxiety during pregnancy -- anxiety measurement scale -- validity -- measurement performance -- confirmatory factor analysis -- correlation; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Medicine, Psychosomatic -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 616.08
• DOI: 10.1080/0167482X.2020.1725462
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-482X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: This study examined the performance of multiple anxiety scales in measuring anxiety during pregnancy, an important issue due to the possible effect of pregnancy-related symptoms on the measurement of anxiety. Methods: Secondary data on anxiety, measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) 20-item and six-item scales, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Anxiety Subscale (EPDS-3A) and the Symptoms Checklist-90-Anxiety Subscale (SCL-90), were obtained from two pregnancy cohort studies. Both cohorts completed the EPDS-3A, while 3341 women completed the STAI-S and 2187 women completed the SCL-90, with 231 women participating in both cohorts. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and Spearman correlation. Results: The STAI-6 had adequate model fit, while the STAI-20 and the SCL-90 had inadequate model fit. Model fitness for the EPDS-3A could not be assessed due to its low number of items. The correlation between the STAI-20 and STAI-6 was excellent ( r = 0.93). The correlation of EPDS-3A with other anxiety scales was low to moderate ( r (STAI-20) = 0.57, r (STAI-6) = 0.53 and r (SCL-90) = 0.44). The correlation of SCL-90 with both STAI-20 and STAI-6 was low ( r < 0.50). Conclusion: Findings indicate that these scales do not measure anxiety as a single dimension and that these scales are incomparable and may conceptualize anxiety differently.