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. 2025 Jul 11;78(3):e20240268.
doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2024-0268. eCollection 2025.

Validity evidence for the Brazilian version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Kydja Milene Souza Torres de Araújo  1 , Jaqueline Wendland  2 , Rosilene Santos Baptista  3
Affiliations

Validity evidence for the Brazilian version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Kydja Milene Souza Torres de Araújo et al. Rev Bras Enferm. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objectives: to analyze the validity evidence of the Brazilian version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale.

Methods: psychometric study carried out with 262 women in the first six months after giving birth. The analysis included: item-total correlation, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha and test-retest. Parallel analysis was used to adjust dimensionality. Evidence of the validity of relationships with other variables was verified through the correlation between the PSAS, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale and the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory.

Results: the removal of eight items improved the quality of fit of the baseline model without affecting reliability. The results indicated stability and evidence of the validity of relationships with other variables showed positive correlations between the PSAS and the other scales used for this purpose.

Conclusions: the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale has satisfactory psychometric parameters for the Brazilian context.

Objetivos:: analizar las evidencias de validez de la versión brasileña de la Escala de Detección de Ansiedad Posparto (PSAS).

Métodos:: es un estudio psicométrico realizado entre 262 mujeres durante los primeros seis meses del posparto. El análisis incluyó: correlación ítem-total, análisis factorial exploratorio, análisis factorial confirmatorio, alfa de Cronbach y test-retest. Se utilizó el análisis paralelo para ajustar la dimensión y se comprobó la validez de las relaciones con otras variables mediante la correlación entre la PSAS, la Escala de Depresión Posparto de Edimburgo y el Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo-Estado.

Resultados:: la eliminación de ocho ítems mejoró la calidad de ajuste del modelo referencial sin afectar la fiabilidad. Los resultados indicaron estabilidad y corroboraron la validez de las relaciones con otras variables, demostrando así, correlaciones positivas entre la PSAS y las demás escalas utilizadas para este fin.

Conclusiones:: la Escala de Detección de Ansiedad Posparto exhibe parámetros psicométricos satisfactorios para el contexto brasileño.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Graphical representation of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the PSAS after elimination of items with standardized regression weight < 0.3, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 2024
Figura 1
Figura 1. Representação gráfica da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória da PSAS após eliminação dos itens com standardised regression weight < 0.3, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, 2024
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