title: Development of a Postpartum Stressor Measure.
abstract: To develop a brief self-report assessment of the type and magnitude of stressors during the postpartum period. A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 138 women at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA completed a measure of postpartum stressors at their 6-week postpartum visit. Item analyses were conducted; items were eliminated based on low relevance, low endorsement, and cross-loadings, resulting in a 9-item measure. Items were summed to create a total postpartum stressors score. To establish concurrent validity with perceived stress, the total postpartum stressors score was correlated with the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). The stressors score was tested for bivariate associations with depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) and with social support (three items adapted from the MOS Social Support Scale). The 9-item measure, which was comprised of three factors (baby care, well-being, and work) demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α = .74) and concurrent validity with the PSS-4 (r = .53; p < .001) in the current sample. The stressors total score was negatively associated with social support (p < .001) and was positively associated with depression symptoms (p < .001). The early psychometric results on this measure are promising and associated with postpartum social support and depressive symptoms. With additional research to enhance external validity, this measure could be used and tested in an intervention study at the 6-week postpartum visit to identify women at risk for distress.
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. epark@mgh.harvard.edu.|Department of Psychiatry, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. epark@mgh.harvard.edu.|Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St., Suite 901, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. epark@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors: E R
authors: ER
authors: Park
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. CPSAROS@mgh.harvard.edu.|Department of Psychiatry, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. CPSAROS@mgh.harvard.edu.|, 1 Bowdoin Square, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. CPSAROS@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Psaros
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 02114LTRAEGER@mgh.harvard.edu.|Department of Psychiatry, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 02114LTRAEGER@mgh.harvard.edu.|, 1 Bowdoin Square, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. 02114LTRAEGER@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Traeger
authors: Department of General Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. ASTAGG1@mgh.harvard.edu.|Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA. ASTAGG1@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Stagg
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. jolene.jacquart@gmail.com.|, 151 Merrimac, Boston, MA, 02114-4719, USA. jolene.jacquart@gmail.com.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Jacquart
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. jessica.willett21@gmail.com.|, 151 Merrimac, Boston, MA, 02114-4719, USA. jessica.willett21@gmail.com.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Willett
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. marissa1787@gmail.com.|, 151 Merrimac, Boston, MA, 02114-4719, USA. marissa1787@gmail.com.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Alert
authors: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, MGH/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. KLAROCHE@mgh.harvard.edu.|, 151 Merrimac, Boston, MA, 02114-4719, USA. KLAROCHE@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: LaRoche
authors: Vincent Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MGH, Boston, MA, USA. JECKER@PARTNERS.ORG.|Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA. JECKER@PARTNERS.ORG.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Ecker
mesh_terms: D001900:Boston; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Postpartum stressors; Stress measure; Stress perception