Validation and factor structure of the Italian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R)

• Published in: Journal of reproductive and infant psychology Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 516 - 531
• Main Authors: Nespoli, Antonella, Colciago, Elisabetta, Fumagalli, Simona, Locatelli, Anna, Hollins Martin, Caroline J., Martin, Colin R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 01.11.2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Attendance; Between-subjects design; Birth satisfaction; Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R); Childbearing; Childbirth & labor; Clinical standards; Cross-Sectional Studies; Discriminant validity; Female; Humans; Italian language; Italy; Language; maternal satisfaction; Measurement; midwifery care; Patient Satisfaction; Personal Satisfaction; Pregnancy; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; Reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Self report; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translation; validation; Validity; Italy; Birth satisfaction; maternal satisfaction; midwifery care; validation; Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R)
• ISSN: 0264-6838; 1469-672X; 1469-672X
• DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2020.1836333

To validate the Italian-language version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) and report key measurement properties of the tool. To evaluate the impact of antenatal class attendance on BSS-R assessed birth satisfaction. Maternal satisfaction is one of the standards of care defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to improve the quality of services. The BSS-R is a multi-dimensional self-report measure of the experience of labour and birth. Cross-sectional instrument evaluation design examining factor structure and key aspects of validity and reliability. Embedded between-subjects design to examine known-group discriminant validity and the impact of antenatal class attendance on BSS-R sub-scale and total scores as dependent variables. After giving birth, 297 women provided data for analysis. The Italian version of the BSS-R (I-BSS-R) was the key study measure. The established three-factor and bi-factor models of the BSS-R were found to offer an excellent fit to the data. Comparison of the tri-dimensional measurement model and the bi-factor model of the BSS-R found no significant differences between models. Women who attended antenatal classes had significantly lower stress experienced during childbearing sub-scale scores (I-BSS-R SE), compared to those who did not. Good convergent, divergent validity and known-groups discriminant validity were established for the I-BSS-R. Internal consistency observations were found to be sub-optimal in this population. On all key psychometric indices, with the exception of internal consistency that requires further investigation, the I-BSS-R was found to be a valid translation of the original BSS-R. The impact of antenatal classes on birth satisfaction warrants further research.