The STAI measures two types of anxiety – state anxiety, or anxiety about an event, and trait anxiety, or
anxiety level as a trait characteristic. Higher scores are positively correlated with higher levels of anxiety. The
STAI is a test/questionnaire given to adults that shows how strong a person’s feelings of anxiety are. Feelings of
unease, worry, tension, and stress can be defined as anxiety. The STAI tests two different types of anxiety, state
and trait anxiety.
Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores correlating with greater anxiety. The creators of this test
separated the different anxieties so both scales would be reliable. This means the S-anxiety scale would only
measure S-anxiety and the T-anxiety scale would only measure T-anxiety, the ultimate goal in creating this test.
They found they could not achieve this if the questions were the same to examine both types of anxiety. Each
scale asks twenty questions each and is rated on a 4-point scale [7, 13].
Low scores indicate a mild form of anxiety whereas median scores indicate a moderate form of anxiety and
high scores indicate a severe form of anxiety. Both scales have anxiety absent and anxiety present questions.
Anxiety absent questions represent the absence of anxiety in a statement like, “I feel secure.” Anxiety present
questions represent the presence of anxiety in a statement like “I feel worried.”
More examples from the STAI on anxiety absent and present questions are listed below. Each measure has
a different rating scale. The 4-point scale for S-anxiety is as follows: 1) not at all, 2) somewhat, 3) moderately so,
4) very much so. The 4-point scale for T-anxiety is as follows: 1) almost never, 2) sometimes, 3) often, 4) almost
always.
RESULTS
As can be seen from figure 1 during the psychological evaluation of anxiety, the distribution of patients
according to the Spielberger scale was as follows:
- Low anxiety occurred in 31 (11,5%) pregnant women with NVIP,
- In 118 (43.7%) cases a moderate level of trait anxiety was established,
- 121 (44.8%) women have a high level of anxiety.
According to our data, most of the surveyed women with NVIP experienced a high level of situational
anxiety, which amounted to 72.2% (n = 195). For moderate and low degrees of state anxiety, approximately equal
frequency was registered, 14.1% (n = 38) and 13.7% (n = 37), respectively.
Such a high rate of state anxiety in women with induced pregnancy is due to the fact that the symptoms of
nausea and vomiting in the first trimester led to an increase in the initially existing anxiety and depression.
Thus, state or situational anxiety with NVIP arose as an emotional reaction to nausea and vomiting, as to a
stressful situation. At the same time, state anxiety, different in intensity and dynamism in time, was observed
characteristic of induced pregnancy. In order to obtain the characteristics of the mental health of women with
induced pregnancy and developed NVIP, we found it interesting to have a more detailed study of state anxiety.
In the course of studying the results of situational (state) psychodiagnostics on the Spielberger scale, the
response rate “very much so” to the specific for anxiety syndrome of pregnant women with NVIP judgments
was analyzed (Table 1).
The state of tension and regretful from the current situation was noted by 175 (64.8%), anxiety and
nervousness were registered in 158 (58.5%) and 207 (76.7%) cases, respectively. 147 (54.4%) and 187 (69.3%)
women, respectively, noted their excitement for possible failures and concern.
80%
72.2%
Mild anxiety (≤30)
70%
Moderate anxiety (31-44 )
60%
Severe anxiety (≥45)
50%
44.8%
43.7%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
14.1%
13.7%
11.5%
Trait anxiety
State anxiety
Figure 1. Distribution of STAI according to trait and state anxiety degree of women with NVIP
To cite this paper: Asatova MM, Saidazova ShSh, and Voitova GA. 2019. Features of the Psychoemotional Condition of Women with Induced Pregnancy. J. Life