The factor structure of the pregnancy anxiety scale.
This paper presents a measurement model of a ten-item scale of maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Using confirmatory factor analysis, its reliability and validity are examined in a hospital sample of mothers (N = 266) surveyed postpartum in Galveston, Texas. According to several indices of overall fit as well as individual parameter estimates, a latent internal structure of three interrelated dimensions is confirmed for the scale items. These first-order constructs are anxiety about being pregnant, childbirth, and hospitalization. This model exhibits a considerably better fit than both a no-factors model and a model in which the dimensions are uncorrelated. Finally, several exogenous constructs expected to be associated with pregnancy anxiety--age, marital status, and worry over health--exert significant effects on dimensions of the model or on a second-order factor.
Levin
J S
JS
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23501.
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology