Measuring Adolescent Birth Trauma: Development, Adaptation, and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties for the Childbirth Trauma Index

J Nurs Meas. 2020 Dec 1;28(3):489-502. doi: 10.1891/JNM-D-19-00012. Epub 2020 Jul 31.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Childbirth can have negative consequences; however, measurement tools to assess this event are limited; and none consider the adolescent's birth. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the childbirth trauma index (CTI).

Methods: Construct validity and reliability of the CTI was assessed via a field test involving 160 adolescents 3 days postpartum.

Results: A modified 8-item version of the original CTI exhibited acceptable construct validity and reliability criteria. The CTI was found to link with birth appraisal, but not subjective distress measurements.

Conclusions: The CTI may be a more robust means of assessing birth appraisal than use of single-item measures. Recommendations for practice suggest use of the modified CTI to assess birth appraisal, or use in combination with single-item rating scales.

Keywords: adolescents; childbirth experience; measurement tool; psychometrics.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological*
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Mothers / statistics & numerical data
  • Parturition / psychology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / psychology*
  • Psychometrics / standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*