The Oxford Worries about Labour Scale: women's experience and measurement characteristics of a measure of maternal concern about labour and birth.

Journal article

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.

Authors: Redshaw, M; Martin, C; Rowe, R; Hockley, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Psychology, health and medicine
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 354-366
• Publication date: 2009-05-01
• DOI: 10.1080/13548500802707159
• EISSN: 1465-3966
• ISSN: 1354-8506
• Language: English
• Keywords: England; Pregnancy; Parturition; Female; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Logistic Models; Questionnaires; Anxiety; Postpartum Period; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Labor, Obstetric