Adult separation anxiety in pregnancy: how common is it?

Figures & data

Figure 1 Recruitment flow.

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of the sample

	Total	ASA-27 score		Significance
		Positive	Negative
Average age in years (n = 331)	29 (range 18–44)	28.7 (SD 5)	29.5 (SD 5.7)	F(1,329) = 0.931 P = 0.331
Average weeks pregnant (n = 331)	29 (range 8–41)	29.3 (SD 7.7)	29 (SD 7.1)	F(1,328) = 0.123 P = 0.729
Marital status (n = 327)
Married/de facto	81.7%	82.3%	82.3%	X^2(2) = 0.886 P = 0.236
Single	14%	12.7%	14.5%
Separated/divorced	4.3%	7.6%	3.2%
First time mothers (n = 331)
First time mother	31.7%	45%	27.5%	X^2(1) = 8.587 P = 0.003*
Has other children	68.3%	55%	72.5%
Number of children (n = 331)
First child	31.7%	45%	27.5%	X^2(3) = 9.844 P = 0.02*
Second child	35%	23.8%	38.6%
Third child	16.9%	17.1%	17.1%
Four or more	16.3%	15%	16.7%
Ethnic background (n = 328)
Australian	39.3%	35.9%	40.3%	X^2(1) = 0.421 P = 0.517
Not Australian	60.7%	64.1%	59.7%
Asian	20.6%	4.4%	19.4%
Middle Eastern	16.9%	17.9%	16.9%
European	12.6%	7.7%	14.1%
Other Oceanic	8%	12.8%	6.5%
Central/South American	2.5%	1.3%	2.8%
Education (n = 328)
University	25.6%	22.8%	26.5%	X^2(4) = 4.713 P = 0.318
TAFE	25.9%	26.6%	25.7%
Year 12 (secondary school)	23.8%	31.6%	21.3%
Year 10 (high school)	20.1%	16.5%	21.3%
Other	4.6%	0%	5.2%
Employment (n = 329)
Full-time	23.4%	20.3%	24.4%	X^2(3) = 0.688 P = 0.142
Part-time	9.1%	10.1%	8.8%
Maternity leave	9.1%	8.9%	9.2%
Unemployed	58.4%	60.8%	57.6%
Occupation (n = 271)
Stay at home mum	19.9%	18.2%	20.5%	X^2(3) = 0.180 P = 0.981
Office/administration	27.7%	28.8%	27.3%
Professionals	32.8%	33.3%	32.7%
Sales/hospitality	19.6%	19.7%	19.5%

Note:

* P < 0.05.

ASA-27 Positive and Negative represent participants scoring above or below, respectively, the cutoff score for adult separation anxiety.

Abbreviations: ASA-27, Adult Separation Anxiety Scale; SD, standard deviation; TAFE, technical and further education (vocational college).

Table 2 Parity by adult separation anxiety disorder status

	ASA-27 score		Total
	Positive	Negative
First pregnancy
Yes	36	69	105
No	44	182	226
Total	80	251	331

Notes: ASA-27 Positive and Negative represent participants scoring above or below, respectively, the cutoff score for adult separation anxiety. The odds ratio was (36/69)/(44/182) = 2.16.

Abbreviation: ASA-27, Adult Separation Anxiety Scale.