Pregnancy anxiety: A systematic review of current scales

Journal article

Brunton, Robyn, Dryer, Rachel, Saliba, Anthony and Kohlhoff, Jane. (2015). Pregnancy anxiety: A systematic review of current scales. Journal of Affective Disorders. 176, pp. 24 - 34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.01.039
AuthorsBrunton, Robyn, Dryer, Rachel, Saliba, Anthony and Kohlhoff, Jane
Abstract

Background
Depression in pregnancy is a serious health issue; however, anxiety in pregnancy, with a reported higher prevalence, may also be a serious issue. Anxiety symptoms in pregnancy can relate to several anxiety types, such as general anxiety, anxiety disorders, and pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA), anxiety characterised by pregnancy specific fears and worries. Awareness of these distinctions however, is not always widespread. Both general anxiety and PrA are associated with maternal negative outcomes (e.g. increased nausea) however; PrA is more often associated with negative outcomes for the child (e.g. preterm birth). Furthermore, PrA is potentially a risk factor for postnatal depression with assessment of PrA potentially affording important intervention opportunities. Currently several different instruments are used for PrA however their psychometric properties are unclear. To our knowledge a review of current instruments and their psychometric properties is lacking, this paper aims to fill that gap.
Methods
Studies, which assessed PrA, published between 1983 and 2013 in peer-reviewed journals, were identified.
Results
Sixty studies were identified after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, and classified as: pregnancy-related anxiety specific, scales for other constructs, sub scales of another instrument and general anxiety scales. Each scale׳s strengths and limitations were discussed.
Limitations
Our findings may be limited by restricting our review to peer-reviewed journals. This was done however as we sought to identify scales with good psychometric properties.
Conclusions
Currently no scales are available for pregnancy-related anxiety with sound theoretical and psychometric properties. Clinically the need for such a scale is highlighted by the potential intervention opportunities this may afford. Future research should be directed towards the development of such a scale.

KeywordsAnxiety; Pregnancy-related anxiety; Antenatal; Prenatal; MaternalScales
Year2015
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
Journal citation176, pp. 24 - 34
PublisherElsevier B.V.
ISSN0165-0327
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.01.039
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84922751313
Page range24 - 34
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationNetherlands
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8q364/pregnancy-anxiety-a-systematic-review-of-current-scales

Log in to edit

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 119
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Theoretical perspectives of child abuse
Brunton, Robyn and Dryer, Rachel. (2023). Theoretical perspectives of child abuse. In In Brunton, Robyn and Dryer, Rachel (Ed.). Perinatal Care and Considerations for Survivors of Child Abuse: Challenges and Opportunities pp. 29-48 Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33639-3_3
Examining the relationship between maternal childhood abuse history and mother-infant bonding : The mediating roles of postpartum depression and maternal self-efficacy
Chau, Vivian, Dryer, Mary Rachel and Brunton, Robyn. (2023). Examining the relationship between maternal childhood abuse history and mother-infant bonding : The mediating roles of postpartum depression and maternal self-efficacy. Child Abuse and Neglect. 145, p. Article 106439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106439
Alcohol consumption after pregnancy awareness and the additive effect of pregnancy-related anxiety and child abuse
Brunton, Robyn and Dryer, Rachel. (2023). Alcohol consumption after pregnancy awareness and the additive effect of pregnancy-related anxiety and child abuse. Current Psychology. pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04387-6
Child abuse and wellbeing : Examining the roles of self-compassion and fear of self
Collins, Sharon, Orth, Tayla, Brunton, Robyn and Dryer, Rachel. (2023). Child abuse and wellbeing : Examining the roles of self-compassion and fear of self. Child Abuse and Neglect. 138, p. Article 106089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106089
Design and development of the trauma informed care beliefs scale-brief
Beehag, Nathan, Dryer, Rachel, McGrath, Andrew, Krägeloh, Chris and Medvedev, Oleg. (2023). Design and development of the trauma informed care beliefs scale-brief. Children and Youth Services Review. 153, p. Article 107087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107087
Validation of the German version of the pregnancy-related anxiety scale (PrAS) : Psychometric properties across all trimesters of pregnancy
Weigl, Tobias, Brunton, Robyn, Dryer, Rachel and Garthus-Niegel, Susan. (2023). Validation of the German version of the pregnancy-related anxiety scale (PrAS) : Psychometric properties across all trimesters of pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 23(1), p. Article 472. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05787-z
Paternal pregnancy-related anxiety : Systematic review of men's concerns and experiences during their partners' pregnancies
Dabb, Carol, Dryer, Rachel, Brunton, Robyn J., Yap, Keong and Roach, Vijay J.. (2023). Paternal pregnancy-related anxiety : Systematic review of men's concerns and experiences during their partners' pregnancies. Journal of Affective Disorders. 323, pp. 640-658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.092
Psychometric properties of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale—Screener.
Dryer, Rachel, Brunton, Robyn, He, Daniel and Lee, Esther. (2022). Psychometric properties of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale—Screener. Psychological Assessment. 34(5), pp. 443-458. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001110
The role of body dissatisfaction and self-compassion in pregnancy-related anxiety
Dryer, Mary Rachel, Chee, Priscilla and Brunton, Robyn. (2022). The role of body dissatisfaction and self-compassion in pregnancy-related anxiety. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. 313, pp. 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.068
Sexual violence and Australian women : A longitudinal analysis of psychosocial and behavioral outcomes
Brunton, Robyn and Dryer, Rachel. (2022). Sexual violence and Australian women : A longitudinal analysis of psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. Social Science & Medicine. 292, p. Article 114334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114334
Psychometric evaluation of the pregnancy-related anxiety scale : Acceptance of pregnancy, avoidance, and worry about self subscales
Brunton, Robyn, Gosper, Katrina and Dryer, Rachel. (2021). Psychometric evaluation of the pregnancy-related anxiety scale : Acceptance of pregnancy, avoidance, and worry about self subscales. Journal of Affective Disorders. 278, pp. 341-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.064
Child sexual abuse and pregnancy : A systematic review of the literature
Brunton, Robyn and Dryer, Rachel. (2021). Child sexual abuse and pregnancy : A systematic review of the literature. Child Abuse and Neglect. 111, p. 104802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104802
Pregnancy-related anxiety, perceived parental self-efficacy and the influence of parity and age
Brunton, Robyn, Simpson, Nicole and Dryer, Rachel. (2020). Pregnancy-related anxiety, perceived parental self-efficacy and the influence of parity and age. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(18), pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186709
Childhood abuse, pregnancy-related anxiety and the mediating role of resilience and social support
Brunton, Robyn, Wood, Tamara and Dryer, Rachel. (2020). Childhood abuse, pregnancy-related anxiety and the mediating role of resilience and social support. Journal of Health Psychology. 27(4), pp. 868-878. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320968140
Body dissatisfaction and fat talk during pregnancy : Predictors of distress
Rachel Dryer, Graefin von der Schulenburg, Isabella and Brunton, Robyn. (2020). Body dissatisfaction and fat talk during pregnancy : Predictors of distress. Journal of Affective Disorders. 267, pp. 289-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.02.031
Pregnancy-related anxiety: Re-examining its distinctiveness
Anderson, Carla M., Brunton, Robyn J. and Dryer, Rachel. (2019). Pregnancy-related anxiety: Re-examining its distinctiveness. Australian Psychologist. 54(2), pp. 132 - 142. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12365
The effect of cultivating diagram use on the quality of EFL students' written explanations
Manalo, Emmanuel, Tsuda, Ayano and Dryer, Rachel. (2019). The effect of cultivating diagram use on the quality of EFL students' written explanations. Thinking Skills and Creativity. 33, pp. 1 - 9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2019.100588
Differentiating autism spectrum disorder from ADHD using the Social Communication Questionnaire
Mouti, Anissa, Dryer, Rachel and Kohn, Michael. (2019). Differentiating autism spectrum disorder from ADHD using the Social Communication Questionnaire. Journal of Attention Disorders. 23(8), pp. 828 - 837. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718781945
Re-examining pregnancy-related anxiety: A replication study
Brunton, Robyn, Dryer, Rachel, Saliba, Anthony and Kohlhoff, Jane. (2019). Re-examining pregnancy-related anxiety: A replication study. Women and Birth. 32(1), pp. 131 - 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.04.013
The initial development of the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale
Brunton, Robyn, Dryer, Rachel, Saliba, Anthony and Kohlhoff, Jane. (2019). The initial development of the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale. Women and Birth. 32(1), pp. 118 - 130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.05.004
Equity issues for students with disabilities
Dryer, Rachel. (2018). Equity issues for students with disabilities. In In M. A. Henning, C. U. Krageloh and R. Dryer, F. Moir, R. Billington and A. G. Hill (Ed.). Wellbeing in higher education: Cultivating a healthy lifestyle among faculty and students pp. 174 - 186 Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315641539-17
The pregnancy-related anxiety scale: A validity examination using Rasch analysis
Brunton, Robyn, Dryer, Rachel, Krageloh, Christian, Saliba, Anthony, Kohlhoff, Jane and Medvedev, Oleg. (2018). The pregnancy-related anxiety scale: A validity examination using Rasch analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 236, pp. 127 - 135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.116
Quality of life of higher education students with learning disabilities studying online
Lambert, David C. and Dryer, Rachel. (2018). Quality of life of higher education students with learning disabilities studying online. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. 65(4), pp. 393 - 407. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2017.1410876
Barriers to learning online experienced by students with a mental health disability
McManus, Dean, Dryer, Rachel and Henning, Marcus. (2017). Barriers to learning online experienced by students with a mental health disability. Distance Education. 38(3), pp. 336 - 352. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2017.1369348
The role of sociocultural influences on symptoms of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorders in men, and the mediating effects of perfectionism
Dryer, Rachel, Farr, Melissa, Hiramatsu, Izumi and Quinton, Stephanie. (2016). The role of sociocultural influences on symptoms of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorders in men, and the mediating effects of perfectionism. Behavioral Medicine: relating behavior and health. 42(3), pp. 174 - 182. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2015.1122570
Academic achievement performance of university students with disability: Exploring the influence of non-academic factors
Dryer, Rachel, Henning, Marcus, Tyson, Graham and Shaw, Rosemary. (2016). Academic achievement performance of university students with disability: Exploring the influence of non-academic factors. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. 63(4), pp. 419 - 430. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2015.1130217
Cross-cultural examination of beliefs about the causes of Bulimia Nervosa among Australian and Japanese females
Dryer, Rachel, Uesaka, Yuri, Manalo, Emmanuel and Tyson, Graham. (2015). Cross-cultural examination of beliefs about the causes of Bulimia Nervosa among Australian and Japanese females. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 48(2), pp. 176 - 186. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22269
Motivation to learn and quality of life issues in higher education students with a disability
Dryer, Rachel, Tyson, Graham and Shaw, Rosemary. (2015). Motivation to learn and quality of life issues in higher education students with a disability. In In M. A. Henning, C. U. Krageloh and G. Wong-Toi (Ed.). Student motivation and quality of life in higher education pp. 128 - 136 Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315814070
Beliefs about causes of weight gain, effective weight gain prevention strategies, and barriers to weight management in the Australian population
Dryer, Rachel and Ware, Nicole. (2014). Beliefs about causes of weight gain, effective weight gain prevention strategies, and barriers to weight management in the Australian population. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine. 2(1), pp. 66 - 81. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2013.872036