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Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2018

M. Belén Vázquez ,
Beatriz Pereira  and
M. Carmen Míguez
M. Belén Vázquez
Affiliation:
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
Beatriz Pereira
Affiliation:
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
M. Carmen Míguez*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to M. Carmen Míguez Varela. Departamento de Psicología Clínica y Psicobiología. Facultad de Psicología. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña (Spain). E-mail: mcarmen.miguez@usc.es
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Abstract

Although pregnancy increases the vulnerability to anxiety, no specific assessment instruments are usually used to detect it. The objective of this study was to adapt the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ) to Spanish population, as well as analyze its validity and reliability. A sample of 367 nulliparous pregnant women with a normal risk status filled in a socio-demographic and obstetric-gynaecological questionnaire, the PRAQ, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). After performing a factorial analysis, a five-factor model that explains 53.1% of the variance was obtained. Estimates of internal consistency reliability were adequate (range = .78 to .93) for the five factors included in the final confirmatory factor analysis, and for the total scale (.97). Significant correlation among PRAQ, EPDS, and STAI was found (p < .001). The 85th percentile (score 234 or more) was used as a cut-off point to identify those women with high pregnancy-specific anxiety. In accordance with the results obtained, the PRAQ can be considered a useful screening tool to evaluate pregnancy-related anxiety among the Spanish population.

Keywords

adaptation testpregnancy-related anxietypsychometrictest reliabilitytest validity
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 21 , 2018 , E64
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2018 

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Footnotes

Our most sincere gratitude to Dr. Bea Van den Bergh for authorising us to use the PRAQ in Spain. We would also like to thank mid wives and gynaecologists that have facilitated the development of this study in the obstetric consultations of the University Hospital Complex of Ourense. We sincerely appreciate the support and statistical advice of Maite Alves Pérez via the College of Nursing of Ourense. Lastly, we would like to show our gratitude especially to the pregnant women for their patience and generous collaboration in this study.

How to cite this article:

Vázquez, M. B., Pereira, B., & Míguez, M. C. (2018). Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ). The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 21. e64. Doi:10.1017/sjp.2018.67

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