Psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale and the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale and associated risk factors during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issue 2 (1st March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Siafaka, Vassiliki; Tsonis, Orestis; Christogiannis, Christos; Kontouli, Katerina-Maria; Margariti, Kalypso; Barbalia, Zoe; Flindris, Stefanos; Manifava, Eleni; Paschopoulou, Kasmiria Ioanna; Tzioras, Spyros; Baltogianni, Maria; Mavridis, Dimitris; Paschopoulos, Minas
• Is Part Of: BJPsych open. Volume 9:Issue 2(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03-01
• Subjects: COVID-19 pandemic -- Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale -- Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale -- psychometric properties -- second wave; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.635
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4724

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected perinatal mental health. Reliable tools are needed to assess perinatal stress during pandemic situations. Aims: To assess the psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS) and the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale (PREPS-PP) and to explore the associations between women's characteristics and perinatal stress during the second pandemic wave. Methods: The PREPS and PREPS-PP were completed by 264 pregnant and 188 postpartum women, respectively, who also completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results: The internal consistency was similar for PREPS and PREPS-PP. It was good for preparedness stress (a = 0.77 and α = 0.71, respectively) and infection stress (α = 0.83 for both scales) but low for positive appraisal (α = 0.46 and α = 0.41, respectively). Of the pregnant women, 55.33% and 55.27%, respectively, reported scores of ≥40 on STAI-S and STAI-T, and the respective percentages for the postpartum women were 47.34% and 46.80%. In addition, 14.39% of the pregnant women and 20.74% of the postpartum women scored ≥13 on the EPDS. Higher preparedness stress on PREPS and PREPS-PP was associated with primiparity ( P = 0.022 and P = 0.021, respectively) and disrupted perinatal care ( P = 0.069 and P = 0.007, respectively). In postpartum women, higher infection stress was associated with chronic disease ( P = 0.037), primiparity ( P = 0.02) and perceived risk of infection ( P = 0.065). Higher score on infection stress was associated with disrupted perinatal care in both groups ( P = 0.107 and P = 0.010, respectively). Conclusions: The Greek versions of PREPS and PREPS-PP are valid tools for the assessment of women at risk of perinatal stress during a health crisis.