Validation of the Postnatal Perceived Stress Inventory in a French Speaking Population of Primiparous Women

Abstract

To develop a Postnatal Perceived Stress Inventory (PNPSI) and assess its psychometric properties. Cross-sectional quantitative study. One nurse-managed labor and delivery unit in a university hospital in a major metropolitan area. One hundred seventy-nine (179) primiparous French speaking women who gave birth at term. The PNPSI was validated at 6weeks postpartum. Its predictive validity for depression and anxiety was assessed at the same time. The exploratory analysis revealed a 19-item structure divided into six factors. This inventory has good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=.815). The predictive validity shows that the PNPSI significantly predicts depression and anxiety at 6weeks postpartum, and that certain factors are particularly prominent. The PNPSI's psychometric properties make it a useful tool for future research to evaluate interventions for perceived stress during the postnatal period. Its predictive power for depression indicates that it is also a promising tool for clinical settings.