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Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ)
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About Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ)
Scale Name
Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ)
Author Details
Klaas Wijma and Barbro Wijma
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ), developed by Klaas Wijma and Barbro Wijma in 2004, is a globally recognized psychological assessment tool designed to measure fear of childbirth (FOC) among pregnant women and postpartum mothers. This instrument addresses a critical aspect of maternal mental health, as fear of childbirth can significantly impact a woman’s emotional well-being, pregnancy experience, and birthing outcomes. Available in two versions, Version A (WDEQ-A) for prenatal use and Version B (WDEQ-B) for postnatal use, the WDEQ captures both expectant fears and lived experiences, offering a comprehensive approach to understanding this complex emotional state.
The WDEQ-A consists of 33 items, scored on a 6-point Likert scale (0 = “not at all” to 5 = “extremely”), yielding a total score range of 0 to 165. Higher scores indicate greater levels of childbirth fear, with a clinical cutoff of 85 often used to identify severe FOC. The WDEQ-B, similarly structured, assesses postpartum experiences. Originally conceptualized as a unidimensional measure of FOC, subsequent research has revealed its multidimensional nature, encompassing domains such as fear, isolation, lack of positive anticipation, and concerns for the child. This tool’s versatility and robust psychometric properties have made it a cornerstone in perinatal psychology, widely adopted across cultures and translated into numerous languages to support diverse populations.
Fear of childbirth is not merely an emotional response; it is linked to increased risks of prolonged labor, cesarean deliveries, and postpartum psychological distress. The WDEQ empowers clinicians and researchers to identify at-risk individuals, enabling timely interventions such as counseling or psychoeducation. Its detailed exploration of cognitive and emotional appraisals sets it apart from simpler screening tools, offering valuable insights into the nuanced experiences of expectant and new mothers.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the copy: Secure a validated version of the WDEQ (A or B) in the appropriate language from a reputable source, ensuring compliance with copyright and ethical guidelines for psychological testing.
- Explain the purpose: Inform the participant that the questionnaire assesses their expectations or experiences related to childbirth, emphasizing its role in supporting their mental health and well-being.
- Provide instructions: Instruct the participant to respond to each of the 33 items based on their feelings, using the 6-point scale. Clarify that there are no right or wrong answers and encourage honest responses.
- Approximate time: Allow approximately 15-20 minutes for completion, though this may vary depending on the individual’s reading speed and emotional engagement with the questions.
- Administer the scale: Present the questionnaire in a quiet, comfortable environment, either in paper format or digitally, ensuring privacy and minimal distractions to promote accurate self-reporting.
Reliability and Validity
The WDEQ demonstrates strong psychometric properties, making it a reliable and valid tool for assessing fear of childbirth. Studies consistently report high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.87 to 0.93 for WDEQ-A and similarly robust values for WDEQ-B. Test-retest reliability is also satisfactory, with intraclass correlation coefficients around 0.86, indicating stability over time in stable populations.
Regarding validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses have confirmed the multidimensional structure of the WDEQ. Research, such as that by Pallant et al. (2016), identified four key factors in WDEQ-A fear, lack of positive anticipation, isolation, and riskiness, supported by Rasch analysis. Convergent validity is evidenced by significant correlations with related constructs, such as anxiety (e.g., Beck Anxiety Inventory) and depression (e.g., Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), while discriminant validity distinguishes FOC from general anxiety disorders. These properties affirm the WDEQ’s utility as a precise measure in both clinical and research settings.
Available Versions
33-Items
Reference
Wijma, K., Wijma, B., & Zar, M. (2004). Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Garthus-Niegel, S., Størksen, H. T., Torgersen, L., Von Soest, T., & Eberhard-Gran, M. (2011). The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire: a factor analytic study. Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology, 32(3), 160–163. https://doi.org/10.3109/0167482X.2011.573110
Khwepeya, M., Huang, H. C., Lee, G. T., & Kuo, S. Y. (2020). Validation of the Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire for pregnant women in Malawi: a descriptive, cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, 1-11.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire measure?
It measures fear of childbirth in pregnant women (WDEQ-A) and postpartum experiences (WDEQ-B).
How long does it take to complete the WDEQ?
It typically takes 15-20 minutes.
Who can use the WDEQ?
Clinicians, researchers, and psychologists assessing maternal mental health can use it.
What is a high score on the WDEQ?
A score of 85 or higher indicates severe fear of childbirth.
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