title: Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life Questionnaire.
abstract: This article summarizes the development and psychometric properties of the first self-administered, paper-and-pencil instrument that measures maternal quality of life during the early postpartum period. The definition, domains, and conceptual model by Ferrans and Powers (QLI) were used to develop the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) tool. A convenience sample of 184 mothers completed the MAPP-QOL at week 1 and 3 postpartum. Component analysis revealed five domains: psychological/baby; socioeconomic; relational/spouse-partner; relational/family-friends; and health & functioning. Internal consistency reliability for the five subscales resulted in Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .82 to .96. Stability reliability ranged from .66 to .76. The MAPP-QOL and a single-item measure of life satisfaction correlated (r = .69), suggesting convergent validity; discriminant validity was supported by negative correlations with the three negative mood states of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R) as well as poor sleep and fatigue scores. Acceptable reliability and construct validity suggest that the MAPP-QOL may be used in research. Further testing with larger and more diverse samples is recommended.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Quad Cities Regional Program, University of Illinois at Chicago 61215, USA. phill@uic.edu
authors.forename: Pamela D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Jean C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Aldag
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hekel
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riner
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*