Development of the postpartum anxiety scale and study on associated factors

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19658
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58070:Lifelong developmental nursing-related
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: NAGATA TOMOKO 順天堂大学, 医療看護学部, 助教 (80758631)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 周産期メンタルヘルス / 産後の不安 / 尺度開発

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure postpartum anxiety that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for anxiety but is causing disruption and distress in life, and to identify the factors associated with postpartum anxiety.
The analysis resulted in the completion of a three-factor, 17-item postpartum anxiety scale, with a Cronbach's alpha = 0.899 for the overall scale and a reliability coefficient of 0.765 for the retest method. Reliability and validity were verified by positive correlations between this scale and the GAD-7 and STAI state of anxiety. Factors associated with postpartum anxiety were age, negative life events, trait anxiety, history of mental illness, satisfaction with childbirth, number of children and ease of raising children, social support, financial instability, and inconvenience of living due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Free Research Field

看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究成果の学術的意義は、近年まで産後うつ病に比べて研究や介入が軽視されてきた産後の不安に着目し、不安症の診断基準は満たさないが生活に支障や苦痛が生じている、いわゆる「グレーゾーン」の不安に注目した点である。社会的意義としては、本研究で開発した産後の不安尺度を分娩施設退院時や新生児訪問の際に活用することで、産後の不安に早期介入し、不安症の予防につながる点である。