The Worry Behaviors Inventory-Perinatal Revised: Adaptation and Initial Validation for Use in Perinatal Samples

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Perinatal Mental Health

Background:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is prevalent in the perinatal period, impacting maternal well-being.
• Existing measures may not fully capture GAD-related behaviors during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Problematic coping behaviors are common among individuals with GAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Perinatal Revised Worry Behaviors Inventory (WBI-PR) for assessing GAD behaviors in perinatal women.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the WBI-PR, including its structure, reliability, and validity.
• To determine if the WBI-PR can predict GAD diagnostic status in this population.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 214 perinatal women, with and without GAD, participated in the study.
• Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the structure of the WBI item pool.
• Internal consistency, construct validity, and predictive utility of the WBI-PR were assessed.

Main Results:

• A two-factor, 10-item WBI-PR scale was supported, with some item differences from the original WBI.
• The WBI-PR demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and evidence of construct validity.
• The WBI-PR significantly predicted GAD diagnostic status, independent of other anxiety and depression symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The WBI-PR is a reliable and valid measure for assessing GAD behaviors in perinatal women.
• This revised inventory offers improved assessment of GAD-related distress during pregnancy and postpartum.
• The findings support the clinical utility of the WBI-PR in identifying and managing GAD in perinatal populations.