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A Network Analysis of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S): A Large-Scale Cross-Cultural Study in Iran, Bangladesh, and Norway

Author

Listed:
  • Oscar Lecuona

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, King Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Chung-Ying Lin

    (Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
    Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
    Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
    Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan)

  • Dmitri Rozgonjuk

    (Department of Molecular Psychology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
    Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia)

  • Tone M. Norekvål

    (Centre on Patient-Reported Outcomes, Department of Research and Development, Haukeland University Hospital, Postboks 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, N-5063 Bergen, Norway)

  • Marjolein M. Iversen

    (Centre on Patient-Reported Outcomes, Department of Research and Development, Haukeland University Hospital, Postboks 1400, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, N-5063 Bergen, Norway)

  • Mohammed A. Mamun

    (CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh
    Department of Public Health, University of South Asia, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
    Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
    Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh)

  • Mark D. Griffiths

    (Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK)

  • Ting-I Lin

    (Department of Pediatrics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan)

  • Amir H. Pakpour

    (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 3419759811, Iran
    Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden)

Abstract

The rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to high levels of fear worldwide. Given that fear is an important factor in causing psychological distress and facilitating preventive behaviors, assessing the fear of COVID-19 is important. The seven-item Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) is a widely used psychometric instrument to assess this fear. However, the factor structure of the FCV-19S remains unclear according to the current evidence. Therefore, the present study used a network analysis to provide further empirical evidence for the factor structure of FCV-19S. A total of 24,429 participants from Iran ( n = 10,843), Bangladesh ( n = 9906), and Norway ( n = 3680) completed the FCV-19S in their local language. A network analysis (via regularized partial correlation networks) was applied to investigate the seven FCV-19S items. Moreover, relationships between the FCV-19S items were compared across gender (males vs. females), age groups (18–30 years, 31–50 years, and >50 years), and countries (Iran, Bangladesh, and Norway). A two-factor structure pattern was observed (three items concerning physical factors, including clammy hands, insomnia, and heart palpitations; four items concerning psychosocial factors, including being afraid, uncomfortable, afraid of dying, and anxious about COVID-19 news). Moreover, this pattern was found to be the same among men and women, across age groups and countries. The network analysis used in the present study verified the two-factor structure for the FCV-19S. Future studies may consider using the two-factor structure of FCV-19S to assess the fear of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 era.

Suggested Citation

  • Oscar Lecuona & Chung-Ying Lin & Dmitri Rozgonjuk & Tone M. Norekvål & Marjolein M. Iversen & Mohammed A. Mamun & Mark D. Griffiths & Ting-I Lin & Amir H. Pakpour, 2022. "A Network Analysis of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S): A Large-Scale Cross-Cultural Study in Iran, Bangladesh, and Norway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6824-:d:830780
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    References listed on IDEAS

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