fm
Fisioterapia em Movimento
Fisioter. mov.
1980-5918
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná
Resumen
Introducción:
El análisis del estrés psicosocial materno durante el embarazo puede ser una herramienta de intervención importante para la salud de la madre y del bebé.
Objetivo:
Traducir al portugués de Brasil, adaptar culturalmente y validar la “Pregancy Experience Scale - Short-Form” para luego aplicarla a los casos de brasileñas embarazadas.
Método:
Se realizaron la traducción y la adaptación cultural de la escala siguiendo las recomendaciones de la guía propuesta por Beaton y colaboradores. Los datos fueron recogidos entre enero y septiembre de 2016, en hospitales, unidades básicas de salud y comunidad. En total, 206 embarazadas con edad media de 25,01 ± 6,44 años y edad gestacional de 25,5 ± 8,72 semanas de embarazo llenaron el formulario conforme la escala para el análisis psicométrico y validación.
Resultados:
La investigación desarrolló un modelo de escala bidimensional con dos factores: Experiencias positivas y Experiencias negativas. La confiabilidad se estableció mediante la prueba de Alpha de Cronbach (α > 0,70). Tanto el valor del factor “experiencias positivas” como el de “experiencias negativas” fueron adecuados, con α = 0,77 y α = 0,80, respectivamente. Esto evidencia la confiabilidad de la escala. Se estableció la validez convergente y competidora del instrumento.
Conclusión:
El resultado del estudio psicométrico de la escala indica que la “Pregnancy Experience Scale” es útil para evaluar la experiencia de mujeres embarazadas, especialmente el nivel de estrés psicosocial, lo que contribuye a ampliar la investigación en el área y a desarrollar políticas estratégicas para afrontar los problemas de salud de las mujeres.
Introduction
Pregnancy is a complex body experience lived by the women, resulting in changes and involving the reorganization of biopsychosocial and cognitive levels. It transforms the woman’s relationship with her body and the environment in which she lives. It is an important developmental transition of life1.
Anxiety during pregnancy is one of the normal adaptations most women face, especially in the first trimester, due to biopsychosocial adjustments2), (3. This anxiety tends to increase, at the expense of constant changes throughout the pregnancy and instability with the body image, alongside external factors, such as stress at work, and financial, social or relationship difficulties2. The positive influence of good sleep quality on the reduction of physical discomforts and consequently improvement of the daily life activities of pregnant women is also highlighted4.
Physiological adaptations are precursors of reactions such as emotional and relationship instability in various dimensions of the woman’s life5. Negative attitudes and restrictive behaviors towards weight gain could be associated with multiple psychosocial risk factors for the development of self-image during pregnancy. It is believed that women who experience positive attitudes in pregnancy are more likely to accept weight gain and bodily adaptations6.
Studies about the body image of pregnant women focus on possible associations between the rapid physical changes and the dissatisfaction trigger with their bodies7), (8), (9), (10. Body dissatisfaction, referred as a negative assessment of their body, is part of the attitudinal component of body image11), (12. Dissatisfaction with their bodies, in pregnant women, may be associated with inadequate and restrictive diets13), (14), (15 and to prenatal and postnatal depression9), (16, with negative implications for the health and welfare of mother and child17.
Remote scientific evidence points that the mother’s emotional state can influence the development of the fetus. This fact affected a study carried in 1950, which examined the effects of psychosocial stress during the prenatal period of pregnant women. Currently, there is an increasing number of population-based studies on pregnant women supporting the hypothesis that women who experience high levels of psychosocial stress are susceptible to premature delivery18.
A study1 assessed the gestational experience, the relationship with the pregnant body and the perceived social support, identifying that the reports of pregnant women facing the pregnancy diagnosis brought higher indicators for the perception of “personal changes”, lower values for “experiencing the pregnant body” and poor formulation of “maternal identity”. The perception of social support showed that as greater the protection, the greater the experience of living with the pregnant body, and a more significant relationship with the mother which shows the importance of affective bonds in social support19.
Scales that measure emotional lability during gestation are important parameters to guide the practice of healthy actions, since psychological distress, centered on stress and anxiety, can interfere with the favorable results in this period. However, adapted to accord with the cultural reality of the pregnant women, these scales better identify the perception of the feelings in this phase3), (6.
Assessing the positive and negative aspects of this experience can be an important intervention tool for the health of the mother-child dyad. However, despite the relevance of this theme, there are few tools available in the literature that can measure how specific experiences in pregnancy contribute to or impact the mother’s psychological state. In the Brazilian scenario, there are no available instruments to assess the impact of these experiences on the mother’s psychological state.
Thus, the objective of this study was to translate, adapt and validate “Pregnancy Experience Scale” - Short-Form in the Portuguese language for Brazilian pregnant women.
Methods
This is a methodological study of instrument validation, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade do Sagrado Coração - Bauru/SP (no. 412340/2014). The author of the original version of Pregnancy Experience Scale - Short-Form authorized the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the instrument for Brazilian Portuguese.
Participants
In total, 206 pregnant women participated in this study, recruited by sampling technique by trial20 in Hospitals, Basic Health Units, and community. The inclusion criteria were that the chosen women: 1. were 18 years old or older; 2. were able to read and write in Portuguese Language to have the ability to complete the questionnaires; 3. had a singleton pregnancy with a gestational age ≥ 13 week. The mean age of pregnant women was 25.01 (SD = 6.44) years, and gestational age of 25.5 (SD = 8.72) weeks. A signed informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
The socio-demographic profile of participants, represented by marital status, schooling and occupation, collected by the characterization questionnaire identified higher percentages of women with stable relationship (69%), white (47.08%), with elementary school (44.17%), and those that do not work (55.33%).
The sample size was calculated according to the recommendations of Malhotra21, which determines the number between 5 and 10 women for each existing item in the instrument, in scale validation studies.
Material
Pregnancy Experience Scale - Short-Form - PES6 was developed based on the long version, to assess the daily exposure of the mother to specific positive and negative pregnancy aspects, with the intention of being administered in less time. The Brief Version of PES consists of 10 items that assess the troubles and difficulties related to pregnancy, called negative aspects, and 10 items that assess the positive aspects of pregnancy, both originated at the original version of the scale. To validate the instrument, the author administered the PES-Brief Version on 112 women with low pregnancy risk, single pregnancy, and over 24 weeks of pregnancy. The scale score is obtained based on the frequencies and intensities of negative and positive aspects values, as well as measures made by the relationship between them. The Brief Version scale presents adequate internal reliability and construct validity, and captures the maternal perception of positive and negative aspects generated by pregnancy.
The Demographic Questionnaire was applied as follows: age, marital status, ethnicity, education level, income distribution, and physical activity. Besides the described variables, we studied three questions arranged in similar scales of 01 to 10 points. The first question assesses how competent the woman feels when performing everyday tasks; the second one assesses the satisfaction with body appearance; and the third assesses the self-esteem.
Procedures
Translation and cultural adaptation of the scale
The translation and cultural adaptation of the PES - Short-Form was made according to the guidelines suggested in the Guide of the Institute for Work and Health22, and consists of five stages: translation, version synthesis, back-translation, version proposed by the expert committee and pretest.
In the first stage (translating the scale to Brazil), two fluent English speakers, Brazilian native translators worked independently. One of them had previous knowledge about the investigated construct.
The second stage consisted of a synthesis of both translations, carried out by a synthesis judge, native Portuguese and fluent English speaker, with knowledge on the investigated construct. The synthesis was developed by consensus between the translators and the judge, resulting in a single Brazilian Portuguese version.
In the third stage, the Brazilian Portuguese version (synthesis version) was retro-translated by two native English speakers, who also speak fluent Portuguese, with no previous knowledge in the field of study. They worked independently, translating the Brazilian Portuguese version to English once more. To ensure the reliability of this translation, the native English translators had no access to the original version of the original scale. Two retro-translation versions were generated.
In the fourth stage, all produced materials in earlier stages (translations, synthesis versions, retro-translations, and the original version) were submitted to analysis by an expert committee comprised of the four translators (English and Portuguese speaking natives), one methodologist, one linguist, one professional in the area of women’s health, one statistician and one pregnant woman, representing the target population. The committee assessed the equivalence of the original version and the translated version in four areas: semantic equivalence (ensuring the maintenance of meanings and grammar correction), idiomatic equivalence (equivalent expressions for the colloquialism or idiomatic expressions), experimental equivalence (ensuring the cultural relevance of tasks and examples to be used in the test) and the conceptual equivalence (ensuring the conceptual meaning for the Brazilian population). Finally, the expert committee prepared a final version that was submitted to the pretest (fifth stage), which followed the recommendations of Beaton et al.22. The instrument was applied to an independent sample of 30 pregnant women. There was no doubt to understand the instrument, given that 90% of the sample answered to the scale with no difficulties and, thus, this version was used in data collection21), (23.
Psychometric Study of the Scale
The scale and sociodemographic questionnaire were applied to 206 pregnant women, who were recruited at hospitals and basic health units; they all accepted to participate and signed the consent form.
Data Analysis
The characterization of the sample and the response tendencies for the scale were performed through Descriptive Statistics with calculations of the mean, median, and standard deviation. Cronbach’s alpha test verified the internal scale reliability. To assess the psychometric properties of the translated instrument were used multivariate statistical tests such as SPSS® 12.0 and LISREL® 8.51 software.
To validate the instrument, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used. The models were validated by performing successive adjustments aimed at greater adaptation of the construct. To establish the criteria for analysis of the models, were followed the recommendations of Hair Jr et al.20, which seeks to verify the strength of the relationships between the variables that determine the factors. The models were presented by graph, following the pattern used in the literature for confirmatory factor analysis24.
The adjustments made in the model were based on the measurements that indicate the degree of adequacy: weighted chi-square (x2/ degrees of freedom), value ≥ 5; Goodness-of-Fit Index (GFI) value ≤ 0.9; Adjusted Goodness-of-Fit Index (AGFI) value ≤ 0.9; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) value > 0.08; Normed Fit Index (NFI), values ≤ 0.9; Non-normed Fit Index (NNFI) value ≤ 0.9; Comparative.
The measures of degree of adequacy will be the parameters to verify unidimensionality reliability and validity of construct20), (25. The adequacy of the measurement model was assessed by the analysis of the following items: factorial loadings (λ ≥ 0.50 - acceptable; λ ≥ 0.70 - ideal), average variance extracted (AVE ≥ 0.50), Cronbach’s alpha test (α ≥ 0.70)26 and Composite reliability (CR ≥ 0.70)20.
Results
In the psychometric study from PES-Brief, we started the analysis with the information obtained on median, mean, and standard deviation of answers given to each one of the 20 items of the instrument. Since there is no positive and negative factor to aggregate the respective positive or negative items, the scores were not inverted to preserve the possibility for the researcher to obtain the ratio of positive experiences6 (Table 1).
Table 1
Frequency, median, mean and standard deviation of answers for the PES-Brief
Statements
Answers %*
Descriptive statistics
0
1
2
3
Median
Mean
SD
P1. How much the baby is moving.
4.9
8.7
24.3
62.1
3
2.43
0.84
P2. Discussions with spouse about baby names.
7.9
9.7
28.6
53.9
3
2.28
0.93
P3. Comments from others about your pregnancy/appearance.
5.3
22.8
36.4
35.4
2
2.01
0.89
P4. Making or thinking about nursery arrangements.
4.9
15
28.6
51.1
3
2.26
0.88
P5. Feelings about being pregnant at this time.
1
9.7
24.8
64.6
3
2.52
0.71
P6. Visits to obstetrician/midwife
1.5
18.9
32
47.6
2
2.25
0.81
P7. Spiritual feelings about being pregnant.
2.4
14.1
30.1
53.4
3
2.34
0.81
P8. Courtesy/assistance from others because you are pregnant.
2.4
17
31.1
49.5
2
2.27
0.83
P9. Thinking about the babysappearance.14.912.681.632.740.59P10.Discussionswithspouseaboutpregnancyχldbirthissues.9.25.31669.432.450.95N1.Ge∈genoughs≤ep.22.83427.715.511.351N2.Physical∫imacy.27.239.825.27.811.130.90N3.Normaldiscomfortsofpregnancy(heartburn,∈cont∈ence).1524.823.836.421.811.08N4.Yourweight.25.233.520.420.911.361.07N5.Bodychan≥sdue→pregnancy.24.335.920.918.911.341.04N6.Thoughtsaboutwhetherthebabyis∥a∥l.24.31818.439.321.721.21N7.Th∈k∈gaboutyourlaborand∂ivery.1517.521.545.611.981.04N8.Ability→dophysicaltaskschores.22.630.627.219.411.431.04N9.Concernsaboutphysicalsymp→ms(pa∈,spo∈g,etc.).23.824.81833.521.611.17N10.Clothesshoesdon´tfit.20.427.226.725.721.571.08Note:⋅Answers:0:¬atall;1:somewˆ;2:quiteabit;3:agreatdeal.SD:standarddeviation.Source:SPSS15.InTab≤1,wecan¬ethebalancebetweenpositiveand¬ativeexperiences∈pregnancytˆarereportedbypregnantwomen.Ge≠raladjustmentofthemodelWe∈itially⊂miedtheorig∈al,o≠-dimensionalmodelofPES-Brief,→theconfirma→ryfac→ranalysis,usingtheLISREL®system,employ∈gULSasamethodof∈itialestimation.Mo∂1sufferedveryp∞r∈itialadjustments(RMSEA=0.153,GFI=0.82,AGFI=0.78,NFI=0.62,CFI=0.68,ℕFI=0.65,x2gl=5.80).Wecanobservet^16ofthe20itemshadverylowfac→rload∈gs(λi>0.40).Intheresalanalysis,weverifiedtˆitemsP1,P2,P3,P4,P5,P6,P7,P8,P9,P10,N2,N3,N4,N5,N7,N9,andN10∏ucedhighw∗e∈themodel,especiallyitemsP2andP10(β=7.93).Thus,asanaempt→fitseems→beimpracticab≤,wetestedasecondmodelwithtwofac→rs,∈whichthepositiveandthe¬ativeexperienceswereorganizedondist∈ctfac→rs.Itis¬eworthytˆthisisthesamefac→rmodelused∈theextendedversionofthePregnancyExperiencesSca≤6.The∈itialse∈gofthetwo-dimensionalmodel,≥≠ratedbythemethodofextractionULS,presentedsatiac→ryvalues(RMSEA=0.076,GFI=0.94,AGFI=0.93,NFI=0.87,CFI=0.96,ℕFI=0.96,x2gl=2.18).TheitemsP1,P6,P9,N3,N9,andN10,hadlowfac→rload∈gs,betweenλi=0.35andλi=0.47.TheitemsP2andP10;N2andP2;N4andN5;N6andN7∏ucedw∗ewitheachother;∈whichthefirstpair≥≠ratedmostw∗e∈themodel(β=5.59).Toensuregreaterdataadherence,weaeptedtheerrorcovariancefortheitemsP2andP10.Theelim∈ationofitemswithlowerfac→rload∈gsdimprovethemodeladjustment,sowema∫a∈edtheseitems→preservethecontentvalty.Aftertheadjustment,thebifac→rialmodelshowedverysatiac→ry≤vels(RMSEA=0.064,GFI=0.95,AGFI=0.93,NFI=0.90,CFI=0.98,ℕFI=0.98,x2gl=1.90).Thegraϕcrepresentationisshown∈Figure01.Figure1Graϕcalrepresentationofthebifac→rialmodel-BrazilianversionofPES-Brief.Source:LISREL®8.51.MeasurementMo∂AdjustmentWeanalyzedthe∫ernalreliabilityandvaltyofthemodelconstruct.Theo≠-dimensionalityisassessedbythevalueofthematrixof∥a∥lizedresesconstruct,whichshod̲belowerthan±2.58∈themode̲,at5%significance≤vel.Themodelpresentedonlyo≠reseabovethelimitvalue,betweenthestatementsP2andN2(β=2.7),N4andN5(β=3.49),andN6andN7(β=3.7).Theseresesdo¬h∈dertheo≠-dimensionalityofthemodel,whichcanbeconfirmedbytheCFI∈dexvalue(0.98),omwhichwerecognizeitso≠-dimensionality.To∈vestigatethereliabilityofthesca≤,wecarriedouttheCronbach’sAlphatest(α>0.70).Thevalueofthefac→r“Positiveexperiences”wasadequate:α=0.77.Thesameourred→thefac→r“Negativeexperiences”,α=0.80.Thesevaluesprov∫ernalreliabilityevnceforthesca≤.Theconver≥ntvaltywasanalyzedthroughthereliabilityvaluesoftheconstruct(ℂ>0.70).Thevaluesfoundforthefac→r“Positiveexperiences”wereadequate(ℂ=0.75).Thesamehappe≠d→thefac→r“Negativeexperiences”,ℂ=0.80.Weadditionallyanalyzedthefac→rload∈gsandt-valuesforeachitem.Inthemodel,onlythefac→rload∈gsofitemsP9,N3,andN9weremoredistant→therecommendedminiμmvalueofλi=0.50.Allt-valuesweresignificant(consr∈gasignificance≤velof5%)andabove1.96.Desπtethelowerfac→rload∈gs,thet-valuesandtheconstructreliabilityp∮→theconver≥ntvalty,show∈gtˆtheitemshavetheability→measurethelatentvariab≤.Fortheconcurrentvalty,weanalyzedifthescoreofeachfac→romthePES-Briefwascorrelated→thegrossmeasuresofsatiactionwiththebody,satiactionwithappearance,self-esteem,humorandperceptionofpersonalcompetence∈carry∈goutdailyactivities.Wefoundcorrelationsbetweentheanalyzedvariab≤s,exceptforthescoreoffac→r“¬ativeexperiences”andthegrossmeasureofhumor(Tab≤2).Tab≤2CorrelationsbetweenthescoresofthePES-Brieffac→rsPositivescoreNegativescoreHumorSatiactionappearanceSatiactionbodySelf-esteemCompetencePositivescore1.000-0.100.14⋅0.18∗0.28∗.327∗0.22∗Negativescore1.000-0.75-0.23∗-0.26∗-.206∗-0.18∗Humor1.0000.28∗0.25∗.338∗0.34∗SatiactionAppearance1.0000.65∗.547∗0.45∗Satiactionbody1.000.545∗0.36∗Self-esteem1.0000.46∗Competence1.000Note:⋅Correlationissignificantatthe0.05≤vel(2-tai≤d);∗Correlationissignificantatthe0.01≤vel(2-tai≤d).Source:SPSS15.Todeterminethe÷er≥ntvalty,wecomparedthescoresoftheBrazilianversionofPES-Briefregard∈gthe≤velsofperceptionoff∈ancialsecurityandthemaritalstatus.Asforf∈ancialsecurity,thetestofKruskal-Wallisshowedtˆthereared⇔erencesbetweentheo≠swhodeclared∈secure(n⊙=32),ali≤∈secure(n⊙=60),ali≤secure(n⊙=68)andf∈anciallysecure(n⊙=46)∈thescoreofthefac→r“positiveexperiences”,x2(3.206)=8.89,p=0.03.TheposthocanalysiswiththeMa∩-Whit≠ytestwasperformedusingtheBonferronicorrection(α=0.008)andntifiedtˆthed⇔erencesofscoresarespecificallyamongthosewhofeel∈secure(mean=38.58)andali≤secure(mean=56.11),U=706.5p=0.005,r=0.28.Therewasnod⇔erence∈thescoreofthefac→r“¬ativeexperiences”,x2(3.206)=3.87,p=0.27.Asforthemaritalstatus,nod⇔erencewasntified∈thescoreofthefac→r“¬ativeexperiences”,x2(4.206)=6.002,p=0.19.However,wefoundd⇔erence∈thescoreofthefac→r“positiveexperiences”,x2(4.206)=14.09,p=0.007.TheposthocanalysiswiththeMa∩-Whit≠ytestwasperformedbyapply∈gtheBonferronicorrection(α=0.005).Thed⇔erenceisspecificallyamongthescoreofsing≤pregnantwomen(n⊙=35,mean=61.91)andthemarriedpregnantwomen(n⊙=142,mean=95.68),U=1537,p>0.0001,r=0.26.Tab≤3representstheBrazilianVersionofthePregnancyExperienceSca≤,∈BriefVersion.Tab≤3BrazilianVersionofthePregnancyExperienceSca≤(PES-BRIEF)PregnancyExperienceSca≤Beloware10situationstˆmaybeconsredreward∈gandencourag∈g∈yourpregnancyand10othersituationstˆmaybeconsred≤ssnice.P≤ase,tickhoweachsituationaffectsyounow.Howeachsituationmadeyoufeelhappy,optimisticorexcited?0Notatall1Somewˆ2Quiteabit3Agreatdeal1.Howμchthebabyismov∈g.01232.Discussionswithspouseaboutbabynames.01233.Commentsomothersaboutyourpregnancyappearance.01234.Mak∈gorth∈k∈gaboutνrseryarran≥ments.01235.Feel∈gsaboutbe∈gpregnantatthistime.01236.Visits→obstetricianmife01237.Sπritualfeel∈gsaboutbe∈gpregnant.01238.Courtesyassistanceomothers∵youarepregnant.01239.Th∈k∈gaboutthebabys appearance.
0
1
2
3
10. Discussions with spouse about pregnancy/childbirth issues.
0
1
2
3
How each situation made you feel unhappy, pessimistic or upset?
1. Getting enough sleep.
0
1
2
3
2. Physical intimacy.
0
1
2
3
3. Normal discomforts of pregnancy (heartburn, incontinence).
0
1
2
3
4. Your weight.
0
1
2
3
5. Body changes due to pregnancy.
0
1
2
3
6. Thoughts about the whether the baby is normal.
0
1
2
3
7. Thinking about your labor and delivery.
0
1
2
3
8. Ability to do physical tasks/chores.
0
1
2
3
9. Concerns about physical symptoms (pain, spotting, etc.).
0
1
2
3
10. Clothes/shoes don’t fit.
0
1
2
3
Source: prepared by the authors.
Discussion
The objective of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the PES-Brief to Brazilian pregnant women, in Brazilian Portuguese.
The process of translation and cultural adaptation of the scale followed the guidelines proposed in the Guide of the Institute for Work and Health22, which ensured a Brazilian Portuguese version, adequate for the psychometric study.
We tested, in the psychometric study, the original one-dimensional model of PES-Brief6 to the confirmatory factor analysis. However, this model did not reach the adequate adjustments. We then tested the factor model of the long form of the Pregnancy Experiences Scale27, in which positive and negative experiences were organized in different factors. Thus, the model confirmed in this study was bifactorial with 20 items.
The internal reliability of the scale carried out using the Cronbach’s Alpha test (α > 0.70) showed a value of α = 0.77 for the factor “positive experiences” and α = 0.80 for the factor “Negative experiences”. These reliability levels show that the scale items are interrelated and measure the latent construct.
The concurrent validity was established by analyzing if the scores of each factor from the PES-Brief correlated with the gross measures of satisfaction with the body, satisfaction with appearance, self-esteem, humor and perception of personal competence in carrying out daily activities. The results showed that positive experiences during pregnancy are associated with satisfaction with the body and appearance, as well as the perception of competence in carrying out daily activities. The changes caused to women’s bodies along the pregnancy affect their daily lives, not only regarding changes in body appearance but above all in daily activities and relationships.
The gestational experience is an organic, intense, psychosocial mix that implies changes in body image, hormones, identity, in the relationship with the partner, and even in the family environment. One of the most important aspects of positive body experiences during pregnancy is the body adaptation during this process. Adapting to bodily changes embraces the need for the mother to allow herself to experience the changes, understand and recognize how they occur in her body, and how they interfere with her life28), (29.
The divergent validity was analyzed by comparing the scores of the Brazilian version of PES-Brief regarding the levels of perception of financial security and the marital status.
The Kruskal-Wallis test for financial security indicated differences between groups for the factor positive experiences, and there was no difference for the factor negative experiences. The perception of financial insecurity can negatively impact the bodily experiences during pregnancy. The socioeconomic situation directly influences living, hygiene, and dietary conditions, as well as the social environment in which the pregnant woman lives30.
No difference was found for the score of the factor “Negative experiences”, regarding the pregnant women’s marital status. However, we found a difference in the score of the factor “Positive experiences”. The results showed that the positive experiences are more frequent in women who have partners. A partner’s support is important for effective coping with stressful events. The pregnancy evolves better when the partner shares this experience, which makes it a factor of emotional security for the pregnant woman. Marital instability is a risk factor because the mother does not have the opportunity to assume and share the responsibility for her child’s life with a partner30.
Some limitations of the study refer to cross-sectional design, making it impossible to assess the causal relationship, due to the fact that the data are collected in a single moment in time, making it more difficult to establish a temporal relationship between the variables.
Other limitations include the selection technique and the sample size. The sample size was calculated using the rule of thumb that determines the number of 5 to 10 women for each item of the scale that is to be validated21. In this study, we used the recommended minimum sample size. Nevertheless, it was not possible to establish discriminant validity for the instrument. Still, because the sample was selected in a non-probabilistic way, it is impossible to generalize about the impact of positive and negative experiences of pregnancy on the satisfaction with the body, appearance, self-esteem, humor and competence to perform daily activities. Thus, we suggest that these differences are only present in this study.
Conclusion
The psychometric study of the scale established the construct validity, the factor structure, and the internal reliability. Thus, it was possible to verify that the instrument is reliable for use in Brazil.
The scale can be used by multiple professionals in the social and health areas. It can also be the starting point for new researches on topics of physiological adaptations in pregnancy and how these experiences interfere with the mother’s psychological state and the fetus’ development. We expect that the validated instrument provides subsidies to direct greater attention and care from professionals to the importance of the impact these physiological changes combined with social issues may cause in the lives of pregnant women.
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Autoría
Lucilene Ferreira
Universidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado CoraçãoBrazilBauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, Brazil
Universidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado CoraçãoBrazilBauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, Brazil
Universidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado CoraçãoBrazilBauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, Brazil
Universidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado CoraçãoBrazilBauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, Brazil
Universidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado CoraçãoBrazilBauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade do Sagrado Coração (USC), Bauru, SP, Brazil
Table 3
Brazilian Version of the Pregnancy Experience Scale (PES-BRIEF)
imageFigure 1
Graphical representation of the bifactorial model - Brazilian version of PES-Brief. Source: LISREL® 8.51.
open_in_new
table_chartTable 1
Frequency, median, mean and standard deviation of answers for the PES-Brief
Statements
Answers %*
Descriptive statistics
0
1
2
3
Median
Mean
SD
P1. How much the baby is moving.
4.9
8.7
24.3
62.1
3
2.43
0.84
P2. Discussions with spouse about baby names.
7.9
9.7
28.6
53.9
3
2.28
0.93
P3. Comments from others about your pregnancy/appearance.
5.3
22.8
36.4
35.4
2
2.01
0.89
P4. Making or thinking about nursery arrangements.
4.9
15
28.6
51.1
3
2.26
0.88
P5. Feelings about being pregnant at this time.
1
9.7
24.8
64.6
3
2.52
0.71
P6. Visits to obstetrician/midwife
1.5
18.9
32
47.6
2
2.25
0.81
P7. Spiritual feelings about being pregnant.
2.4
14.1
30.1
53.4
3
2.34
0.81
P8. Courtesy/assistance from others because you are pregnant.
2.4
17
31.1
49.5
2
2.27
0.83
P9. Thinking about the baby`s appearance.
1
4.9
12.6
81.6
3
2.74
0.59
P10. Discussions with spouse about pregnancy/childbirth issues.
9.2
5.3
16
69.4
3
2.45
0.95
N1. Getting enough sleep.
22.8
34
27.7
15.5
1
1.35
1
N2. Physical intimacy.
27.2
39.8
25.2
7.8
1
1.13
0.90
N3. Normal discomforts of pregnancy (heartburn, incontinence).
15
24.8
23.8
36.4
2
1.81
1.08
N4. Your weight.
25.2
33.5
20.4
20.9
1
1.36
1.07
N5. Body changes due to pregnancy.
24.3
35.9
20.9
18.9
1
1.34
1.04
N6. Thoughts about whether the baby is normal.
24.3
18
18.4
39.3
2
1.72
1.21
N7. Thinking about your labor and delivery.
15
17.5
21.5
45.6
1
1.98
1.04
N8. Ability to do physical tasks/chores.
22.6
30.6
27.2
19.4
1
1.43
1.04
N9. Concerns about physical symptoms (pain, spotting, etc.).
23.8
24.8
18
33.5
2
1.61
1.17
N10. Clothes/shoes don´t fit.
20.4
27.2
26.7
25.7
2
1.57
1.08
table_chartTable 2
Correlations between the scores of the PES-Brief factors
Positive score
Negative score
Humor
Satisfaction appearance
Satisfaction body
Self-esteem
Competence
Positive score
1.000
-0.10
0.14*
0.18**
0.28**
.327**
0.22**
Negative score
1.000
-0.75
-0.23**
-0.26**
-.206**
-0.18**
Humor
1.000
0.28**
0.25**
.338**
0.34**
Satisfaction Appearance
1.000
0.65**
.547**
0.45**
Satisfaction body
1.000
.545**
0.36**
Self-esteem
1.000
0.46**
Competence
1.000
table_chartTable 3
Brazilian Version of the Pregnancy Experience Scale (PES-BRIEF)
Pregnancy Experience Scale
Below are 10 situations that may be considered rewarding and encouraging in your pregnancy and 10 other situations that may be considered less nice. Please, tick how each situation affects you now.
How each situation made you feel happy, optimistic or excited?
0 Not at all
1 Somewhat
2 Quite a bit
3 A great deal
1. How much the baby is moving.
0
1
2
3
2. Discussions with spouse about baby names.
0
1
2
3
3. Comments from others about your pregnancy/appearance.
0
1
2
3
4. Making or thinking about nursery arrangements.
0
1
2
3
5. Feelings about being pregnant at this time.
0
1
2
3
6. Visits to obstetrician/midwife
0
1
2
3
7. Spiritual feelings about being pregnant.
0
1
2
3
8. Courtesy/assistance from others because you are pregnant.
0
1
2
3
9. Thinking about the baby`s appearance.
0
1
2
3
10. Discussions with spouse about pregnancy/childbirth issues.
0
1
2
3
How each situation made you feel unhappy, pessimistic or upset?
1. Getting enough sleep.
0
1
2
3
2. Physical intimacy.
0
1
2
3
3. Normal discomforts of pregnancy (heartburn, incontinence).
0
1
2
3
4. Your weight.
0
1
2
3
5. Body changes due to pregnancy.
0
1
2
3
6. Thoughts about the whether the baby is normal.
0
1
2
3
7. Thinking about your labor and delivery.
0
1
2
3
8. Ability to do physical tasks/chores.
0
1
2
3
9. Concerns about physical symptoms (pain, spotting, etc.).
0
1
2
3
10. Clothes/shoes don’t fit.
0
1
2
3
Como citar
Ferreira, Lucilene et al. Traducción, adaptación y validación de la “Pregnancy Experience Scale” para brasileñas embarazadas. Fisioterapia em Movimento [online]. 2020, v. 33 [Accedido 3 Abril 2025], e003301. Disponible en: <https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5918.033.AO01>. Epub 13 Ene 2020. ISSN 1980-5918. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5918.033.AO01.
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