Validation of the Spanish-language version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale Research Short Form: PSAS-ES-RSF

Costas-Ramon, Natalia, Vinagre-Gonzalez, Agustina Maria, Silverio, Sergio A ORCID: 0000-0001-7177-3471, Fallon, Victoria ORCID: 0000-0002-7350-2568, Christiansen, Paul and Aparicio-Garcia, Marta Evelia (2026) Validation of the Spanish-language version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale Research Short Form: PSAS-ES-RSF ARCHIVES OF WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH, 29 (2). 57-. ISSN 1434-1816, 1435-1102

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Abstract

Background: Postpartum anxiety is a prevalent emotional disorder affecting approximately 20% of women, often more common than postpartum depression. Despite its high prevalence, the Spanish healthcare system lacks screening programs specifically targeting this condition. Methods: This study aimed to develop and validate a short version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS-ES-RSF) to address time constraints in clinical practice and improve its usability as a screening tool. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on two independent Spanish samples (Sample 1: N = 699; Sample 2: N = 293), a 16-item version was extracted from the original 51-item PSAS-ES. Results: The four-factor structure of the PSAS-ES-RSF—addressing maternal competence, infant safety, practical infant care, and psychosocial adjustment—demonstrated strong psychometric properties (CFI >.95, RMSEA <.08). Cultural context and risk factors, such as maternal self-efficacy and the return to work, influenced the selection of items, showing some variation from the English-language short form. Conclusions: The PSAS-ES-RSF offers a reliable and efficient tool for exploring postpartum anxiety in Spanish-speaking populations. Further research is needed to explore its applicability in diverse cultural contexts and to continue refining postpartum anxiety screening strategies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Postpartum anxiety, Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS), Maternal mental health, Psychometric validation, Postnatal emotional disorders, Maternal self-efficacy, Infant care anxieties, Psychosocial adjustment postpartum
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Psychology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2026 14:32
Last Modified:	23 May 2026 11:11
DOI:	10.1007/s00737-026-01695-1
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3197986
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