Development and Validation of a New COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (NCAS)

• Published in: Journal of health management p. 97206342211146
• Main Authors: Rehman, Usama, Shahnawaz, Mohammad Ghazi, Gupta, Kaveri, Khan, Neda Haseeb, Kharshiing, Korsi D., Kashyap, Drishti, Uniyal, Ritika, Khursheed, Masrat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi, India SAGE Publications 18.08.2022
• Subjects: EFA; concurrent and incremental validity; New COVID-19 anxiety scale; CFA
• ISSN: 0972-0634; 0973-0729
• DOI: 10.1177/09720634221114672

The study aimed to develop and validate a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) anxiety scale. Three independent studies were done to achieve the stated aim of the research. Study 1 explored the factor structure of the scale. Study 2 aimed at confirming the factor structure and establishing test–retest reliability of NCAS. Study 3 aimed to test the incremental validity of the new scale over two most widely used scale (FCV-19S & CAS). EFA resulted in a three-dimensional factor structure with 4, 3, 5 items in ‘anxiety pertaining to threat posed by COVID-19’, ‘Anxiety pertained to public policies’ and ‘Anxiety pertaining to societal consequences’ respectively. CFA confirmed the findings of EFA and a higher order of ‘COVID-19 anxiety’ was also established. The test–retest reliability was found to be 0.91. NCAS shared 48% variance with FCV-19S (fear of COVID-19 scale) and 27% with CAS (Coronavirus anxiety scale). NCAS has significant incremental validity over FCV-19S and CAS in predicting self-reported mental health and life satisfaction. The scale would help in identifying people’s specific anxiety related to COVID-19, which would further help in their intervention/treatment.