Table 2.
Factor structure of the PSAS (significant loadings in bold)
| Rotated components | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Factor 1: maternal competence and attachment anxieties | ||||
| 1.I have had negative thoughts about my relationship with my baby | 0.73 | −0.06 | 0.08 | 0.06 |
| 2.I have felt that my baby would be better cared for my someone else | 0.72 | 0.01 | 0.03 | −0.04 |
| 3.I have felt unconfident or incapable of meeting my baby’s basic care needs | 0.66 | 0.10 | 0.20 | −0.07 |
| 4.I have worried about the bond I have with my baby | 0.66 | 0.050. | 0.12 | 0.07 |
| 5.I have worried that my baby feels more content in someone else’s care | 0.62 | 0.21 | 0.02 | −0.05 |
| 6.I have felt that other mothers are coping with their babies better than me | 0.59 | −0.01 | 0.22 | 0.20 |
| 7.I have felt that I am not the parent I want to be | 0.57 | −0.04 | −0.03 | 0.31 |
| 8.I have worried I will not know what to do when my baby cries | 0.54 | 0.11 | 0.24 | 0.01 |
| 9.I have worried about how I will cope with my baby when others are not around to support me | 0.53 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 10.I have worried about being unable to settle my baby | 0.52 | −0.05 | 0.36 | 0.02 |
| 11.I have worried that my baby is picking up on my anxieties | 0.49 | 0.13 | 0.02 | 0.27 |
| 12.I have worried that my baby is less content than other babies | 0.47 | −0.05 | 0.42 | −0.01 |
| 13.I have worried that other people think my parenting skills are inadequate | 0.41 | 0.18 | 0.08 | 0.31 |
| 14.I have felt that motherhood is much harder than expected | 0.41 | −0.16 | 0.17 | 0.40 |
| 15.I have felt that I should not need help to look after my baby | 0.36 | 0.09 | −0.06 | 0.26 |
| Factor 2: infant safety and welfare anxieties | ||||
| 16.I have worried about my baby being accidentally harmed by someone or something else | 0.12 | 0.76 | −0.02 | −0.01 |
| 17.I have repeatedly checked on my sleeping baby | −0.05 | 0.71 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| 18.I have worried that my baby will stop breathing while sleeping | −0.02 | 0.68 | 0.11 | −0.02 |
| 19.I have felt frightened when my baby is not with me | 0.03 | 0.67 | −0.09 | 0.19 |
| 20.I have worried about leaving my baby in a childcare setting | −0.12 | 0.55 | 0.03 | 0.28 |
| 21.I have worried about accidentally harming my baby | 0.27 | 0.52 | 0.00 | −0.07 |
| 22.I have thought of ways to avoid exposing my baby to germs | −0.12 | 0.51 | 0.17 | 0.02 |
| 23.I have not taken part in an everyday activity with my baby because I fear they may come to harm | 0.29 | 0.48 | −0.09 | 0.10 |
| 24.I have worried about my baby’s health even after reassurance from others | 0.16 | 0.48 | 0.42 | −0.02 |
| 25.I have worried that I will become too ill to care for my baby | 0.30 | 0.43 | 0.08 | 0.02 |
| 26.I have felt a greater need to do things in a certain way or order than before my baby was born | 0.02 | 0.29 | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| Factor 3: practical infant care anxieties | ||||
| 27.I have worried about my baby’s milk intake | −0.01 | 0.05 | 0.74 | −0.04 |
| 28.I have worried about my baby’s weight | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.68 | −0.12 |
| 29.I have worried about getting my baby into a routine | 0.08 | −0.09 | 0.67 | 0.14 |
| 30.I have worried about the way that I feed my baby | 0.15 | 0.07 | 0.62 | 0.00 |
| 31.I have worried about the length of time that my baby sleeps | 0.10 | −0.18 | 0.54 | 0.26 |
| 32.I have used the internet for reassurance about my baby’s health | 0.00 | 0.27 | 0.44 | 0.08 |
| 33.I have worried that my baby is not developing as quickly as other babies | 0.25 | 0.19 | 0.32 | 0.05 |
| Factor 4: psychosocial adjustment to motherhood | ||||
| 34.I have felt resentment towards my partner | 0.05 | −0.09 | 0.04 | 0.59 |
| 35.I have felt tired even after a good amount of rest | 0.07 | 0.05 | −0.03 | 0.58 |
| 36.I have worried more about my relationship with my partner than before my baby was born | 0.11 | 0.16 | −0.07 | 0.57 |
| 37.I have worried that I am not going to get enough sleep | 0.07 | −0.23 | 0.23 | 0.56 |
| 38.I have worried that my partner finds me less attractive than before my baby was born | −0.13 | 0.16 | 0.11 | 0.56 |
| 39.I have worried more about my relationship with my family than before my baby was born | 0.13 | 0.04 | −0.12 | 0.54 |
| 40.I have worried more about my appearance than before my baby was born | −0.26 | 0.06 | 0.10 | 0.55 |
| 41.I have worried more about completing household chores than before my baby was born | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.23 | 0.52 |
| 42.I have had difficulty sleeping even when I have had the chance to | 0.01 | 0.20 | 0.01 | 0.51 |
| 43.I have felt that I do not get enough support | 0.26 | 0.01 | −0.01 | 0.49 |
| 44.I have worried more about my relationship with my friends than before my baby was born | 0.16 | 0.14 | −0.05 | 0.48 |
| 45.I have been less able to concentrate on simple tasks than before my baby was born | 0.25 | 0.07 | −0.01 | 0.47 |
| 46.I have worried about returning to work | −0.18 | 0.27 | 0.07 | 0.46 |
| 47.I have felt unable to juggle motherhood with other responsibilities | 0.38 | −0.07 | −0.13 | 0.45 |
| 48.I have felt that I have had less control over my day than before my baby was born | 0.25 | −0.09 | 0.20 | 0.43 |
| 49.I have felt isolated from family and friends | 0.35 | 0.18 | −0.12 | 0.40 |
| 50.I have worried more about my finances than before my baby was born | −0.11 | 0.22 | 0.17 | 0.35 |
| 51.I have felt that when I do get help it is not beneficial | 0.25 | 0.27 | 0.01 | 0.31 |
| % of variance explained | 29.94 | 6.35 | 4.84 | 3.56 |
| Cronbach’s alpha | 0.91 | 0.85 | 0.80 | 0.90 |