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Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale for Chinese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Listed:
  • Wanqiu Yang

    (The Mental Health Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

  • Peng Li

    (Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China)

  • Yubo Huang

    (The Mental Health Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

  • Xiao Yang

    (Kunming Psychiatric Hospital, Kunming 650225, China)

  • Wei Mu

    (The Mental Health Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

  • Wangwei Jing

    (Kunming Psychiatric Hospital, Kunming 650225, China)

  • Xiaohong Ma

    (West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610044, China)

  • Xiangyang Zhang

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

Abstract

Background: fear of COVID-19 is widespread among the population, especially among college students because of their increased exposure to the media information overload of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19 S) is a relatively short instrument used to evaluate fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the validity and reliability of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale have not been fully investigated in Chinese university student groups. Objectives: this study assessed the cross-cultural adaptability and reliability of the FCV-19S for Chinese university students. Methods: a Chinese version of Fear of COVID-19 Scale (C-FCV-19S) was generated using the translation-backward translation method. Psychometric properties of the C-FCV-19S, including internal consistency, split-half reliability, construct reliability, convergent validity, and diagnostic accuracy, were evaluated. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) scales were also used to evaluate participants for depression and anxiety. Results: the C-FCV-19S has acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.872) and satisfactory split-half reliability (correlation coefficient: 0.799). Using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we examined the construct reliability (KMO = 0.920). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed that the bifactor model of scale (including general factor, factor1: the awareness of COVID-19 and physiological arousal, factor 2: fear-related thinking) had a good fit index (χ2/df =6.18, RMSEA= 0.067, SRMR = 0.028, GFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.970 and CFI= 0.988). Using depression-positive and anxiety-positive scores as reference criteria, we found that the areas under the curve were 0.70 and 0.68, respectively, and that the optimal cutoff scores of the C-FCV-19S was 17.5 (sensitivity: 66.3% and 58.7%, respectively). Conclusions: the validity and reliability of C-FCV-19S are satisfactory, and the optimal cutoff point was 17.5. The C-FCV-19S can be applied adopted in Chinese university students.

Suggested Citation

  • Wanqiu Yang & Peng Li & Yubo Huang & Xiao Yang & Wei Mu & Wangwei Jing & Xiaohong Ma & Xiangyang Zhang, 2022. "Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale for Chinese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8624-:d:863605
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bo Zhao & Fanlei Kong & Myo Nyein Aung & Motoyuki Yuasa & Eun Woo Nam, 2020. "Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Knowledge, Precaution Practice, and Associated Depression Symptoms among University Students in Korea, China, and Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Chuanyi Wang & Zhe Cheng & Xiao-Guang Yue & Michael McAleer, 2020. "Risk Management of COVID-19 by Universities in China," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-6, February.
    3. Henry Kaiser, 1970. "A second generation little jiffy," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 35(4), pages 401-415, December.
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