title: Psychometric testing of the feelings and thoughts about weight scale on postpartum women in Taiwan.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Feelings and Thoughts About Weight (CFATAW) scale and evaluate the ability of this scale to assess weight-related distress in Taiwanese women after childbirth. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to recruit 252 postpartum women who had given birth 6 to 9 months previously. Categorical data analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyze the data. Internal consistency, content validity index, and factor analysis all indicated CFATAW to be a valid and reliable instrument for use with Taiwanese postpartum women. Factor analysis yielded a two-factor solution of weight distress and weight salience, with an explained variance of 57.97%. Further, women who were currently overweight scored 2.75, 2.44, and 1.87 times higher than their nonoverweight counterparts, respectively, in the total CFATAW scale scores and scores on distress and salience subscales. Women with postpartum weight retention faced a 2.33, 2.53, and 2.42 times greater risk, respectively, of scoring higher on the total scale and two subscales. The results of this study indicated that the CFATAW can be used by maternity and community health nurses to assess weight-related distresses in women after childbirth. The research results could be useful in developing interventions to assist women in Taiwan with the problem of postpartum weight retention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Institute of Technology.
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Mei-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011594:Psychometrics; D013624:Taiwan