Psychometric properties of the Fear of Birth Scale in women in the perinatal period: A multicountry study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.01.063
• Publication Date: 2025-01-14T16:30:40Z
• Authors: Matilde Sousa; Daniela Fidalgo; Cláudia Sousa; Susan Garthus-Niegel; Olga Riklikienė; Paulina Pawlicka; Julie Jomeen; Inês Jongenelen; Lara Seefeld; Gabija Jarašiūnai...; Barbara Baranowska; Kathleen Baird; Diogo Lamela; Raquel Costa; Tiago Miguel Pinto
• Keywords: Perinatal period

Assessing Fear of Birth Scale's (FOBS) psychometric properties in the perinatal period using multicountry data is a step toward effectively screen clinically significant fear childbirth (FOC) maternal healthcare settings. FOBS were analyzed women from Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and Portugal. FOBS' reliability, criterion (known group convergent), concurrent, predictive, clinical validity analyzed. was completed by 3431 pregnancy (n = 2984) or postpartum 447). Sociodemographic, obstetric, neonatal, mental health-related data, depressive anxiety symptoms, tokophobia severity self-reported. has good reliability. Known-group established based on differences sociodemographic, variables. Convergent found with birth trauma. Concurrent severity. scores predicted elective cesarean section, symptoms. discriminates between without FOC postpartum, optimal cut-offs across countries. This study suggested that psychometrically strong measure can be an effective tool to period.