Measuring postnatal demoralisation: adaptation of the Demoralisation Scale-II (DS-II) for postnatal use
Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Demoralisation Scale II (DS-II) and adapt it for use with women in the postnatal period.
Background: Demoralisation is a psychological state characterised by a sense of incompetence and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness in response to a stressful situation. The postnatal period is a life stage of many disruptions. Women may lose their confidence and become demoralised if feeling unprepared for the tasks of motherhood. The DS-II is a 16-item scale developed among cancer patients, but with content that is also relevant postnatally, including items on sense of failure, helplessness, hopelessness, isolation, entrapment and loss of purpose.
Methods: Rasch analysis was used to investigate the psychometric properties of the DS-II and refine the scale for postnatal use.
Results: Participants were 209 women admitted with their babies to a residential early parenting programme. A 14-item revised scale was derived, the Postnatal DS-II, showing good psychometric properties, discriminant validity and sensitivity to change, and being well targeted to the sample.
Conclusion: The Postnatal DS-II could have utility as an assessment tool, helping clinicians to understand better women’s postnatal experiences, assess the effectiveness of interventions and communicate with women in a meaningful and non-stigmatising way.
Background: Demoralisation is a psychological state characterised by a sense of incompetence and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness in response to a stressful situation. The postnatal period is a life stage of many disruptions. Women may lose their confidence and become demoralised if feeling unprepared for the tasks of motherhood. The DS-II is a 16-item scale developed among cancer patients, but with content that is also relevant postnatally, including items on sense of failure, helplessness, hopelessness, isolation, entrapment and loss of purpose.
Methods: Rasch analysis was used to investigate the psychometric properties of the DS-II and refine the scale for postnatal use.
Results: Participants were 209 women admitted with their babies to a residential early parenting programme. A 14-item revised scale was derived, the Postnatal DS-II, showing good psychometric properties, discriminant validity and sensitivity to change, and being well targeted to the sample.
Conclusion: The Postnatal DS-II could have utility as an assessment tool, helping clinicians to understand better women’s postnatal experiences, assess the effectiveness of interventions and communicate with women in a meaningful and non-stigmatising way.
Keywords: Demoralisation; mental health; parenting; postpartum period; psychometrics; women
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia 2: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia 3: Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Publication date: 20 October 2018
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content