BACKGROUND:
Hospital-based midwives are routinely exposed to multifaceted stressors inherent in perinatal care, yet standardized and validated instruments tailored to their stress responses remain limited.

OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to develop a psychometrically sound instrument to measure stress responses specific to midwives working in hospital settings

METHODS:
A sequential mixed-methods design was employed. In Study 1, qualitative data were collected from 75 midwives via open-ended responses to identify salient stressors and associated responses. Thematic analysis led to the conceptualization of six preliminary subdomains. Study 2 involved the development of a 38-item draft scale based on qualitative findings and prior literature. A nationwide survey was conducted with 402 midwives engaged in childbirth services at hospitals. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to establish factorial structure and dimensionality, yielding a refined 28-item scale encompassing five factors.

RESULTS:
The finalized scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.91; subscales: 0.79–0.88). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable model fit indices (GFI = 0.833, AGFI = 0.804, SRMR = 0.074). Test-retest reliability was supported (r = 0.77, p < .01). Criterion-related validity was evidenced by a moderate correlation with an established external scale (r = 0.50, p < .01), and construct validity was substantiated by a negative association with work engagement (r = –0.28, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:
The developed scale offers a valid and reliable measure of stress responses in midwifery practice and holds utility for informing occupational health interventions, workforce policy, and future research in maternity care settings. Poster session 3 (Group B)