Reimagining the General Health Questionnaire as a measure of emotional wellbeing: A study of postpartum women in Malta

Spiteri, M. C.; Jomeen, J.; Martin, C. R.

Abstract

Background: Postpartum health has been subject to a focus on psychological morbidity, despite positive associations between postpartum recovery and maternal emotional wellbeing. There are currently many validated tools to measure wellbeing and related concepts, including non-psychiatric morbidity. The General Health Questionnaire, 12 items (GHQ-12) is one such instrument, widely used and validated in several languages. Its use in postpartum settings has been documented with disagreement about the instrument's utility in this population, particularly in relation to scoring method and threshold. The GHQ-12 has never been translated into Maltese. This study explored the psychometric properties of the GHQ-12 in a Maltese postpartum population to consider if the use of a different scoring method (visual analogue scale) in the GHQ-12 can determine postpartum wellbeing. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four postpartum women recruited from one hospital in Malta completed the translated and adapted GHQ-12 as a wellbeing measure (GHQ-12(WB)) at four postpartum time points. The psychometric properties of the GHQ-12(WB) were explored using confirmatory factor analysis, discriminant and divergent validity and reliability analysis. Results: The GHQ-12(WB) demonstrated good divergent and known-groups validity and internal consistency. No models offered a good fit to the data. The overall consistent best-fit to the data was an eight item, two factor model (GHQ-8). Model fit improved across all models in terms of CFI at 13 weeks. Conclusion: Findings generally support the reliability and validity of the Maltese version of the GHQ-12(WB). Model fit changes over time reflect the dynamic nature of postpartum recovery. Further evaluation of the GHQ-8(WB) is recommended. © 2013 Australian College of Midwives.

Citation

Spiteri, M. C., Jomeen, J., & Martin, C. R. (2013). Reimagining the General Health Questionnaire as a measure of emotional wellbeing: A study of postpartum women in Malta. Women and Birth, 26(4), E105-E111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2013.06.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 14, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2013
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Women and birth
• Print ISSN: 1871-5192
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-1799
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 4
• Pages: E105-E111
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2013.06.002
• Keywords: REF 2014 submission, Postpartum, GHQ-12, Wellbeing, Psychometric, General health
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/473231
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187151921300070X
• Additional Information: Author's accepted manuscript of article published in: Women and birth, 2013, v.26, issue 4
• Contract Date: Nov 23, 2017