Factor structure of the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Psychological Health
• Maternal Health
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Pregnancy-specific stress and anxiety are significant concerns for maternal well-being.
• The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ) is designed to assess these worries.
• Understanding the factor structure of the PDQ is crucial for its effective application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the factor structure of the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ).
• To validate the PDQ's utility in assessing pregnancy-related worries and concerns.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 263 low-risk pregnant women was conducted.
• Participants completed the PDQ and socio-demographic questions.
• Exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring with promax rotation) was employed.

Main Results:

• Items related to healthy diet, physical symptoms, and labor/birth anxiety caused the most stress.
• Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors within the PDQ: concerns about birth/baby, weight/body image, and emotions/relationships.

Conclusions:

• The PDQ demonstrates good face validity, concurrent validity, and internal consistency.
• The identified three-factor structure aligns with other stress/anxiety measures in pregnancy.
• The PDQ can potentially identify women at risk for preterm labor and postnatal complications, guiding clinical interventions.