Development of the paternal pregnancy-related anxiety scale (PPrAS) using Rasch analysis with Australian and USA samples of expectant fathers

Up to 25 % of expectant fathers may experience anxiety symptoms, with potential adverse consequences for themselves and their families. This study developed a psychometrically sound measure of pregnancy-related anxiety for fathers, addressing a current gap in research and practice for psychological scales that specifically assess men's fears, worries, and concerns specific to pregnancy. An item pool encompassing men's pregnancy-related concerns and worries was generated based on findings from a systematic review (Dabb et al., 2023). Following expert panel review, 95 items were evaluated within the framework of the Rasch measurement model, using data from 292 expectant fathers (M_age = 29.9 years, SD = 5.55) from Australia (N = 146) and the USA (N = 146). The resultant 33-item unidimensional scale demonstrated good fit, no evidence for differential item functioning, sound levels of targeting, and excellent internal consistency reliability. The new Paternal Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale (PPrAS) is a comprehensive measure of pregnancy-related anxiety for expectant fathers, with usefulness in both clinical and research contexts.