Factorial Anatomy of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version B: Evidence From a Czech Postpartum Cohort

Abstract

Fear of childbirth is a multidimensional construct that shapes women’s postpartum experiences. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version B (W-DEQ-B) is a widely used self-report instrument that quantifies postpartum fear of childbirth across cognitive and emotional domains. However, the factorial validity of its Czech version has not yet been examined. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 358 Czech women who had given birth within the previous 5 years completed the W-DEQ-B. To clarify its latent structure, we employed a split-sample strategy: exploratory factor analysis on one half of the data, followed by confirmatory factor analysis on the second half and on the full sample. Internal consistency for each factor was estimated with Cronbach’s α. RESULTS: A six-factor model provided the best fit (comparative fit index =.96, Tucker–Lewis index =.95, and root-mean-square error of approximation =.05) and proved interpretable, comprising lack of self-confidence, concerns for the child, loneliness, lack of positive anticipation, negative appraisal, and fear. Internal consistency coefficients ranged from.80 to.86, indicating satisfactory reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The study offers initial evidence for the factorial validity and reliability of the Czech W-DEQ-B, identifying six distinct dimensions of childbirth-related fear. Because our focus was restricted to factor structure and internal consistency, further work should test additional psychometric qualities—such as convergent, predictive, and test–retest validity—in more diverse populations. Even so, the present findings lay a foundation for developing targeted, culturally attuned interventions that address the specific emotional facets of childbirth fear and support maternal mental health in the Czech context.