Top

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Published in:

01-12-2021 | Coronavirus | Original Article

Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

Authors: Mohsen Alyami, Marcus Henning, Christian U. Krägeloh, Hussain Alyami

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 6/2021

Abstract

Fear is a central emotional response to imminent threats such as the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) assesses the severity of fear towards COVID-19. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the FCV-19S. Using a forward-backward translation, the FCV-19S was translated into Arabic. An online survey using the Arabic versions of FCV-19S and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was administered. Reliability and concurrent and confirmatory validity were examined. The dataset consisted of 693 Saudi participants. The internal consistency of the Arabic FCV-19S was satisfactory (α = .88), with sound concurrent validity indicated by significant and positive correlations with HADS (r = .66). The unidimensional structure of the FCV-19S was confirmed. The Arabic version of the FCV-19S is psychometrically robust and can be used in research assessing the psychological impact of COVID-19 among a Saudi adult population.

Available only for authorised users

Ahorsu, D. K., Lin, C.-Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2020). The fear of COVID-19 scale: development and initial validation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8.

Al-Awadhi, A. M., Alsaifi, K., Al-Awadhi, A., & Alhammadi, S. (2020). Death and contagious infectious diseases: impact of the COVID-19 virus on stock market returns. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 27, 100326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2020.100326.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Alyami, M., Al-Sharef, A., Al-Aseri, M., & Henning, M. (2019). Mammography self-efficacy scale and breast cancer fear scale: psychometric properties of the Arabic versions among Saudi women. Cancer Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000767.

Bjelland, I., Dahl, A. A., Haug, T. T., & Neckelmann, D. (2002). The validity of the hospital anxiety and depression scale: an updated literature review. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 52(2), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(01)00296-3.CrossRefPubMed

Bukhari, E. E., Temsah, M. H., Aleyadhy, A. A., Alrabiaa, A. A., Alhboob, A. A., Jamal, A. A., & Binsaeed, A. A. (2016). Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak perceptions of risk and stress evaluation in nurses. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 10(8), 845–850. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.6925.CrossRefPubMed

Byrne, B. M., & Campbell, T. L. (1999). Cross-cultural comparisons and the presumption of equivalent measurement and theoretical structure: a look beneath the surface. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 30(5), 555–574. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022199030005001.CrossRef

Calati, R., Ferrari, C., Brittner, M., Oasi, O., Olié, E., Carvalho, A. F., & Courtet, P. (2019). Suicidal thoughts and behaviors and social isolation: a narrative review of the literature. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 653–667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.022.CrossRefPubMed

Champion, V. L., Skinner, C. S., Menon, U., Rawl, S., Giesler, R. B., Monahan, P., & Daggy, J. (2004). A breast cancer fear scale: psychometric development. Journal of Health Psychology, 9(6), 753–762. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105304045383.CrossRefPubMed

Champion, V. L., Monahan, P. O., Springston, J. K., Russell, K., Zollinger, T. W., Saywell, R. M., & Maraj, M. (2008). Measuring mammography and breast cancer beliefs in African American women. Journal of Health Psychology, 13(6), 827–837. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105308093867.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Cucinotta, D., & Vanelli, M. (2020). WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Acta Bio-Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 91(1), 157–160. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i1.9397.CrossRef

DeVellis, R. F. (2016). Scale development: theory and applications (4th ed.). SAGE.

Dong, E., Du, H., & Gardner, L. (2020). An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(5), 533–534. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30120-1.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Dsouza, D. D., Quadros, S., Hyderabadwala, Z. J., & Mamun, M. A. (2020). Aggregated COVID-19 suicide incidences in India: fear of COVID-19 infection is the prominent causative factor. PsyArVix Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/7xa4b.

Elovainio, M., Hakulinen, C., Pulkki-Råback, L., Virtanen, M., Josefsson, K., Jokela, M., Vahtera, J., & Kivimäki, M. (2017). Contribution of risk factors to excess mortality in isolated and lonely individuals: an analysis of data from the UK Biobank cohort study. The Lancet Public Health, 2(6), e260–e266. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30075-0.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Ferketich, S. (1991). Focus on psychometrics. Aspects of item analysis. Research in Nursing & Health, 14(2), 165–168. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.4770140211.CrossRef

Flora, D. B., & Curran, P. J. (2004). An empirical evaluation of alternative methods of estimation for confirmatory factor analysis with ordinal data. Psychological Methods, 9(4), 466–491. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.9.4.466.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Galea, S., Merchant, R. M., & Lurie, N. (2020). The mental health consequences of COVID-19 and physical distancing: the need for prevention and early intervention. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562.

Goyal, K., Chauhan, P., Chhikara, K., Gupta, P., & Singh, M. P. (2020). Fear of COVID 2019: first suicidal case in India! Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 49, 101989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101989.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Harper, C. A., Satchell, L. P., Fido, D., & Latzman, R. D. (2020). Functional fear predicts public health compliance in the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00281-5.

Henning, M., Alyami, M., Melyani, Z., Alyami, H., & Al Mansour, A. (2020). Development of the cross-cultural academic integrity questionnaire—version 3 (CCAIQ-3). Journal of Academic Ethics, 18(1), 35–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-019-09350-4.CrossRef

Holmes, E. A., O’Connor, R. C., Perry, V. H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., Ballard, C., Christensen, H., Silver, R. C., Everall, I., Ford, T., John, A., Kabir, T., King, K., Madan, I., Michie, S., Przybylski, A. K., Shafran, R., Sweeney, A., et al. (2020). Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. The Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30168-1.

Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352.CrossRefPubMed

Huang, Y., & Zhao, N. (2020). Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 epidemic in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. MedRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.19.20025395.

Jizheng, H., Mingfeng, H., Tengda, L., Ake, R., & Xiaoping, Z. (2020). A survey of mental health of medical staff in new-type coronavirus pneumonia hospitals. Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, 38, Article 00. https://doi.org/10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20200219-00063.

Kang, L., Ma, S., Chen, M., Yang, J., Wang, Y., Li, R., Yao, L., Bai, H., Cai, Z., Xiang Yang, B., Hu, S., Zhang, K., Wang, G., Ma, C., & Liu, Z. (2020). Impact on mental health and perceptions of psychological care among medical and nursing staff in Wuhan during the 2019 novel coronavirus disease outbreak: a cross-sectional study. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.03.028.

Knipe, D., Evans, H., Marchant, A., Gunnell, D., & John, A. (2020). Mapping population mental health concerns related to COVID-19 and the consequences of physical distancing: a Google trends analysis. Wellcome Open Research, 5, 82–92. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15870.1.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Lai, J., Ma, S., Wang, Y., Cai, Z., Hu, J., Wei, N., Wu, J., Du, H., Chen, T., Li, R., Tan, H., Kang, L., Yao, L., Huang, M., Wang, H., Wang, G., Liu, Z., & Hu, S. (2020). Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Network Open, 3(3), e203976. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3976.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Laing, T. (2020). The economic impact of the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-2019): implications for the mining industry. The Extractive Industries and Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.04.003.

Lei, P.-W., & Wu, Q. (2007). Introduction to structural equation modeling: issues and practical considerations. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 26(3), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-3992.2007.00099.x.CrossRef

Lipsitch, M., Swerdlow, D. L., & Finelli, L. (2020). Defining the epidemiology of Covid-19—studies needed. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(13), 1194–1196. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2002125.CrossRef

Lu, W., Wang, H., Lin, Y., & Li, L. (2020). Psychological status of medical workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. Psychiatry Research, 288, 112936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112936.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Mamun, M. A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020). First COVID-19 suicide case in Bangladesh due to fear of COVID-19 and xenophobia: possible suicide prevention strategies. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102073.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Matthews, T., Danese, A., Caspi, A., Fisher, H. L., Goldman-Mellor, S., Kepa, A., Moffitt, T. E., Odgers, C. L., & Arseneault, L. (2019). Lonely young adults in modern Britain: findings from an epidemiological cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 49(2), 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000788.CrossRefPubMed

Mykletun, A., Stordal, E., & Dahl, A. A. (2001). Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale: Factor structure, item analyses and internal consistency in a large population. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 179(6), 540–544. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.179.6.540.CrossRefPubMed

Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Pakpour, A. H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020). The fear of COVID-19 and its role in preventive behaviors. Journal of Concurrent Disorders. https://concurrentdisorders.ca/2020/04/03/the-fear-of-covid-19-and-its-role-in-preventive-behaviors/.

Qiu, J., Shen, B., Zhao, M., Wang, Z., Xie, B., & Xu, Y. (2020). A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: implications and policy recommendations. General Psychiatry, 33(2), e100213. https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2020-100213.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Rajkumar, R. P. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: a review of the existing literature. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 52, 102066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102066.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Reynolds, D. L., Garay, J. R., Deamond, S. L., Moran, M. K., Gold, W., & Styra, R. (2008). Understanding, compliance and psychological impact of the SARS quarantine experience. Epidemiology & Infection, 136(7), 997–1007. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268807009156.CrossRef

Roy, D., Tripathy, S., Kar, S. K., Sharma, N., Verma, S. K., & Kaushal, V. (2020). Study of knowledge, attitude, anxiety & perceived mental healthcare need in Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102083.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sakib, N., Bhuiyan, A. K. M. I., Hossain, S., Al Mamun, F., Hosen, I., Abdullah, A. H., Sarker, M. A., Mohiuddin, M. S., Rayhan, I., Hossain, M., Sikder, M. T., Gozal, D., Muhit, M., Islam, S. M. S., Griffiths, M. D., Pakpour, A. H., & Mamun, M. A. (2020). Psychometric validation of the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale: confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00289-x.

Satici, B., Gocet-Tekin, E., Deniz, M. E., & Satici, S. A. (2020). Adaptation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale: its association with psychological distress and life satisfaction in Turkey. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00294-0.

Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control. (2020). Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control [Gov]. https://covid19.cdc.gov.sa/

Shin, L. M., & Liberzon, I. (2010). The neurocircuitry of fear, stress, and anxiety disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(1), 169–191. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2009.83.CrossRefPubMed

Soraci, P., Ferrari, A., Abbiati, F. A., Del Fante, E., De Pace, R., Urso, A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020). Validation and psychometric evaluation of the Italian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00277-1.

Sousa, V. D., & Rojjanasrirat, W. (2011). Translation, adaptation and validation of instruments or scales for use in cross-cultural health care research: a clear and user-friendly guideline. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 17(2), 268–274. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01434.x.CrossRefPubMed

Tan, B. Y. Q., Chew, N. W. S., Lee, G. K. H., Jing, M., Goh, Y., Yeo, L. L. L., Zhang, K., Chin, H.-K., Ahmad, A., Khan, F. A., Shanmugam, G. N., Chan, B. P. L., Sunny, S., Chandra, B., Ong, J. J. Y., Paliwal, P. R., Wong, L. Y. H., Sagayanathan, R., Chen, J. T., Ying Ng, A. Y., Teoh, H. L., Ho, C. S., Ho, R. C., & Sharma, V. K. (2020). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers in Singapore. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-1083.

Terkawi, A. S., Tsang, S., AlKahtani, G. J., Al-Mousa, S. H., Al Musaed, S., AlZoraigi, U. S., Alasfar, E. M., Doais, K. S., Abdulrahman, A., & Altirkawi, K. A. (2017). Development and validation of Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 11(Suppl 1), S11–S18. https://doi.org/10.4103/sja.SJA_43_17.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Valtorta, N. K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S., & Hanratty, B. (2016). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart, 102(13), 1009–1016. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308790.CrossRefPubMed

Van Bavel, J. J., Baicker, K., Boggio, P. S., Capraro, V., Cichocka, A., Cikara, M., Crockett, M. J., Crum, A. J., Douglas, K. M., Druckman, J. N., Drury, J., Dube, O., Ellemers, N., Finkel, E. J., Fowler, J. H., Gelfand, M., Han, S., Haslam, S. A., Jetten, J., … Willer, R. (2020). Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-0884-z.

Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020). Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), E1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729.CrossRefPubMed

Witte, K. (1992). Putting the fear back into fear appeals: the extended parallel process model. Communication Monographs, 59(4), 329–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637759209376276.CrossRef

Witte, K., & Allen, M. (2000). A meta-analysis of fear appeals: implications for effective public health campaigns. Health Education & Behavior, 27(5), 591–615. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019810002700506.CrossRef

World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Xiao, H., Zhang, Y., Kong, D., Li, S., & Yang, N. (2020). Social capital and sleep quality in individuals who self-isolated for 14 days during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in January 2020 in China. Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research, 26, e923921-1–e923921-8. https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.923921.CrossRef

Zhang, S. X., Wang, Y., Rauch, A., & Wei, F. (2020). Unprecedented disruption of lives and work: health, distress and life satisfaction of working adults in China one month into the COVID-19 outbreak. Psychiatry Research, 288, 112958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112958.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P. (1983). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 67(6), 361–370. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale
Authors: Mohsen Alyami
Marcus Henning
Christian U. Krägeloh
Hussain Alyami
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Coronavirus
COVID-19
Anxiety
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 6/2021
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00316-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 6/2021

A Response to “Young Teenage Suicides in Bangladesh—Are Mandatory Junior School Certificate Exams to Blame?”

COVID-19-Related Suicides in Bangladesh Due to Lockdown and Economic Factors: Case Study Evidence from Media Reports

Learning from Those Who Do: Land-Based Healing in a Mushkegowuk Community

Risk and Protective Factors of Tramadol Abuse in the Gaza Strip: The Perspective of Tramadol Abusers and Psychiatrists

Conceptualising the Loot Box Transaction as a Gamble Between the Purchasing Player and the Video Game Company

Levels and Predictors of Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout Syndrome in Physicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic