The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale-Spanish version: examining the psychometric properties and prevalence of risk for postpartum depression

J Immigr Minor Health. 2010 Apr;12(2):249-58. doi: 10.1007/s10903-009-9260-9.

Abstract

The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) has been recently used to assess postpartum depression (PPD) in ethnic minority women, including Spanish-speaking Latinas from predominantly Mexico and Puerto Rico. Given the heterogeneity in the countries of origin for Spanish-speaking immigrants to the U.S., this study examined the psychometric properties and prevalence of PPD risk of the Spanish version of the PDSS in a sample of Latina immigrant mothers from predominantly El Salvador and other Central American countries. One hundred and 55 Latina immigrants (El Salvador: n = 91, Other Central America: n = 40, Mexico: n = 24) at high risk for PPD, who were part of a preventive intervention trial, participated in this study at 6-8 weeks postpartum. Results indicate that the PDSS had excellent internal consistency. The seven dimensions of the PDSS had good to excellent internal consistencies, with lower alphas for the Anxiety/Insecurity subscale. Approximately two-thirds (63.9%) of the women scored above the clinical cut-off score (> or =60) for combined major/minor PPD on the PDSS-Spanish version. Additional research is needed to further validate the PDSS-Spanish version in clinical research and community settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Central America / ethnology
  • Depression, Postpartum / diagnosis*
  • Depression, Postpartum / epidemiology
  • District of Columbia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Mexico / ethnology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prevalence
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Statistics as Topic
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult