Study of the measurement properties of the Portuguese Version of the Well-Being Questionnaire12 (W-BQ12) in women with pregnancy loss

Abstract

The assessment of well-being can be an important parameter in monitoring the process of mourning. In this study we sought to assess the applicability of the W-BQ12 - Well-Being Questionnaire - in a sample consisting of 74 women between four and six weeks following their respective pregnancy losses, analyzing its measurement capabilities. As proposed by the author, the analysis of the scale's primary components and the discriminating convergent validity confirmed the dimensional structure of three subscales. The scale showed good reliability (global Cronbach's Alpha coefficient = 0.84), and, overall, the items showed a good correlation with the corresponding subscale. Generally speaking, the W-BQ12 showed good discriminative validity when correlated with the PBGS - Perinatal Bereavement Grief Scale. This tool, applied to this study, was found to be both reliable and valid for use by nurses in assessing the well-being of women who have experienced this type of loss.