Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Polish Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale Among Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives Coronavirus leads to multiple tragic consequences not only in the dimension of people’s physical functioning, but also in the psychological dimension. Due to the increased risk of morbidity among the older people, the researchers put the emphasis on the elderly. Nonetheless, it is unacceptable to disregard it in the group of young people who become ill with it and observe its consequences with respect to their close relatives. Accordingly, it is so important to undertake studies pertaining to mental health of children and that of youth during the pandemic. Prior to initiating the research, the adequate selection of research tools of high psychometric properties should be made. Material and methods Our objective was to adapt the Fear of COVID-19 Scale to Polish conditions. The study involved 380 randomly selected students aged 14-18 who were placed under the several months’ national quarantine, i.e. they were taught online without the direct contact with peers. Results The obtained data point to a low intensity of the fear of coronavirus, but the moderate intensity of: satisfaction with life, depression symptoms, state anxiety. Moreover, the confirmation has been provided of high psychometric properties of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale in the Polish version. Conclusions The adapted scale can be successfully used in the comparative studies of the youth in Poland and in other countries (thanks to different linguistic versions of the scale) for the preventive and therapeutic measures.

Keywords

• youth
• depression
• anxiety
• adaptation
• fear of covid-19 scale