Frontiers in Psychology (Sep 2021)

The Factor Structure and Rasch Analysis of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) Among Chinese Students

  • Wei Chen,
  • Wei Chen,
  • Yuxin Liang,
  • Yuxin Liang,
  • Xingyu Yin,
  • Xingyu Yin,
  • Xingrong Zhou,
  • Xingrong Zhou,
  • Rongfen Gao,
  • Rongfen Gao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678979
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) is a new one-dimensional scale used to measure fear of an individual about the COVID-19. Given the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation in China when our study was taking place, our aim was to translate and examine the applicability of the FCV-19S in Chinese students. The sample used for validation comprised 2,445 Chinese students. The psychometrical characteristics of the Chinese FCV-19S (FCV-19S-C) were tested using Rasch analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) proved the unidimensional structure of the model. Both infit and outfit mean square (MNSQ) values (0.69–1.31) and point-measure correlations (0.82–0.86) indicated a good model fit. Person-item separation and reliability values indicated good reliability of the scale. The person-item map revealed an acceptable level of match between the persons and the items. Differential item functioning of the FCV-19S-C showed no differences with respect to age or gender. FCV-19S-C scores were significantly associated with anxiety, stress, depression, ego-resilience, and general health. The FCV-19S-C was proven to be effective in measuring fear of Chinese students about the COVID-19.

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