The translation and adaptation, psychometric evaluation, and comprehensive validation of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale into Dutch.

The transition to motherhood is often perceived positively. However, it is a point during which there is a risk for developing mood disorders. Postpartum anxiety has received less research and clinical attention as compared to other perinatal-specific mental health disorders, such as postpartum depression. This is concerning given evidence that postpartum anxiety may be more prevalent among new mothers than previously thought, with potentially significant negative impacts on both maternal and infant well-being and a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Hence, there is an urgent need for validated tools for measuring postpartum anxiety. Therefore, the present study aimed to translate the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale [PSAS] into Dutch, and to validate the tool for its use in detecting anxiety specific to motherhood. The study [N=601] comprised four stages: English-Dutch translation and back-translation to obtain the Dutch version [PSAS-NL]; a preliminary pilot study to adapt the scale to the characteristics of the Dutch population; confirmatory factor analyses and internal reliability of the subscales of the PSAS and the PSAS-NL to measure its psychometric properties; and structural equational modelling to test whether the PSAS-NL factors would predict general anxiety and depressive symptoms. The PSAS-NL demonstrated similar psychometric properties as the original PSAS, with the same factor structure and acceptable internal consistency. In addition, the PSAS-NL showed divergent validity. The resulting findings on the PSAS-NL offer a reliable measure of postpartum anxiety in Dutch up to six months after birth.