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

Nespoli, Antonella; Colciago, Elisabetta; Fumagalli, Simona; Locatelli, Anna; Hollins Martin, Caroline J.; Martin, Colin R.

Abstract

Objective
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.

Background
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.

Methods
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.

Results
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.

Conclusions
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.

Citation

Nespoli, A., Colciago, E., Fumagalli, S., Locatelli, A., Hollins Martin, C. J., & Martin, C. R. (2021). Validation and factor structure of the Italian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R). Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 39(5), 516-531. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2020.1836333

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 30, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 21, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 22, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 22, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0264-6838
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-672X
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 516-531
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2020.1836333
• Keywords: Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R), Birth satisfaction, maternal satisfaction, validation, midwifery care
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2695418