Psychometric Properties of the Norwegian Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

• Published in: International journal of mental health and addiction 2022-06, Vol.20 (3), p.1446-1464
• Main Authors: Iversen, M. M., Norekvål, T. M., Oterhals, K., Fadnes, L. T., Mæland, S., Pakpour, A. H., Breivik, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Community and Environmental Psychology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Fear; Fear of COVID-19 Scale; Health Psychology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Norway; Original; Original Article; Patient-reported outcomes; Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychometrics; Public Health; Quantitative psychology; Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1557-1874; 1557-1882; 1557-1882
• DOI: 10.1007/s11469-020-00454-2

To examine the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), randomly selected individuals from a larger registry study were invited. We assessed the reliability and validity of the instrument in a sample of 1089 adults in Norway (response rate 73%). Internal consistency measured by Cronbach’s alpha (0.88) was acceptable. Omega alphaHierarchical ( ωt  = 0.69) was lower indicating that the general factor is less reliable, explaining 69% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the FCV-19S is not strictly unidimensional. Exploratory graph analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model (cognitive and somatic fear), which were highly correlated ( r  = 0.84). The Norwegian version of the FCV-19S showed an underlying two-factor structure. However, the high correlation means the two latent factors (cognitive and somatic fear) act as indicators for a second-order general factor and support use of the FCV-19S sum score. The FCV-19S appears to be a valid instrument to assess fear of COVID-19 with good psychometric properties.