The Oxford Worries about Labour Scale: Women's experience and measurement characteristics of a measure of maternal concern about labour and birth
Authors: Redshaw, Maggie1; Martin, Colin2; Rowe, Rachel1; Hockley, Chris1
Source: Psychology, Health and Medicine, Volume 14, Number 3, May 2009 , pp. 354-366(13)
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Abstract:
This study describes the measurement characteristics of a short (9-item) multi-dimensional measure of worry about labour and birth, the Oxford Worries about Labour Scale (OWLS-9), and its use in a large-scale study of women's experience of care. The data utilised were from 2960 women who participated in a national survey of a random sample of women who had recently given birth in England. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three sub-scales within the instrument assessing specific concerns about labour pain and distress, pre-labour uncertainty and interventions. The characteristics of each sub-scale revealed good divergent and discriminant validity. Further, the labour and distress subscale score was found to be significantly associated with both self-reported 'baby blues' and self-reported postnatal depression. The study findings suggest that the three sub-scales embedded can be utilised or the OWLS-9 employed as a full-scale instrument. Used antenatally, the OWLS-9 and OWLS sub-scales may offer a relevant and clinically useful measure of worry about labour and birth. Limitations of the study are discussed and the direction of future research indicated.Keywords: childbirth; pregnancy; worry scale; maternal concerns
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/13548500802707159
Affiliations: 1: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK 2: School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, University of the West of Scotland, Ayrshire, UK
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