Abstract
Abstract Introduction: The analysis of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy can be an important intervention tool for maternal and infant health. Objective: To translate, culturally adapt and validate the Pregnancy Experience Scale - Brief Version - into Brazilian Portuguese for Brazilian pregnant women. Method: The scale was carried out according to the guidelines recommended by Beaton and his collaborators. Data were collected between January and September of 2016, in hospitals, basic health units, and community. In total, 206 pregnant women with an average age of 25.01 ± 6.44 years and gestational age of 25.5 ± 8.72 pregnancy weeks answered the scale for the process of psychometric analysis and validation. Results: The results indicated a two-dimensional model of the scale with two factors: Positive Experiences and Negative Experiences. The reliability was established through Cronbach’s Alpha Test (α > 0.70). The value found for the positive experiences factor was appropriate, α = 0.77. The same happened to the Negative Experiences factor, α = 0.80. These values provide evidence of the scale reliability. The convergent and concurrent validity of the instrument was established. Conclusion: The result of the psychometric study of the scale pointed out that the Pregnancy Experience Scale is an important intervention tool for the health care of mother and newborn, besides being a useful instrument to assess the experience of the women with the pregnancy, especially, the level of psychosocial stress, contributing to broaden the research in this area and subsidize support strategies for this population and women’s health policies.
Highlights
The analysis of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy can be an important intervention tool for maternal and infant health
206 pregnant women with an average age of 25.01 ± 6.44 years and gestational age of 25.5 ± 8.72 pregnancy weeks answered the scale for the process of psychometric analysis and validation
The results indicated a two-dimensional model of the scale with two factors: Positive Experiences and Negative Experiences
Summary
The analysis of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy can be an important intervention tool for maternal and infant health. The. Pregnancy is a complex body experience lived by the women, resulting in changes and involving the reorganization of biopsychosocial and cognitive levels. Pregnancy is a complex body experience lived by the women, resulting in changes and involving the reorganization of biopsychosocial and cognitive levels It transforms the woman’s relationship with her body and the environment in which she lives. Anxiety during pregnancy is one of the normal adaptations most women face, especially in the first trimester, due to biopsychosocial adjustments [2, 3] This anxiety tends to increase, at the expense of constant changes throughout the pregnancy and instability with the body image, alongside external factors, such as stress at work, and financial, social or relationship difficulties [2]. The positive influence of good sleep quality on the reduction of physical discomforts and improvement of the daily life activities of pregnant women is highlighted [4]
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