Psychometric Properties of the Greek Version of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale

Background It has been widely acknowledged in the literature that the most reliable and valid method of assessing perinatal anxiety is through reliable and valid measures, as anxiety is highly prevalent among women during the perinatal period. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and the validity and reliability of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) in Greek women in the perinatal period. To date, no study has been conducted in Greece assessing the psychometric properties of the PASS. Methods This is a retrospective study of 518 women who gave birth in Athens, Greece, between January 2016 and January 2019. The participants were followed from pregnancy up to the first postnatal year within a healthcare intervention, carried out at the Day Center for the Care of the Mental Health of Women (Perinatal Mental Health Disorders), run by the Non-Profit Organization FAINARETI. Measures used in the study were the PASS and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results To assess the internal reliability of the PASS, two different internal consistency indices were calculated, showing a high reliability level. The data had a positive skewing effect, indicating low reported levels of perinatal anxiety among the participants. Correlation analysis between the PASS and the EPDS showed good convergence scale validity, while conducted factor analyses demonstrated fitting construct validity. Conclusions These findings suggest that the four-factor PASS appears to be adequate for the Greek population of women in the perinatal period.