Development and criterion validity of the COVID-19 anxiety and fear assessment scale: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: The emergence of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19 disease, has been a major public health challenge and an increase in the feeling of uncertainty of the population, who is also experiencing an increase in levels of anxiety and fear regarding the COVID-19 disease. Objective: The objective of the study was the construct and criterion validation of the Escala de evaluación de la Ansiedad y MIedo a COVID-19 (AMICO, for its acronym in Spanish) to measure both constructs in the general Spanish population Methods: Descriptive study of psychometric validation. A field study was carried out to execute univariate and bivariate analyses, in addition to the exploratory and confirmatory factorial analysis of the scale. For the criteria validity study, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI) and sensitivity and specificity values were calculated. Results: The study sample was composed of 1036 subjects over 18 years of age, who resided in Spain, where 56.3% were women with a mean age of 48.11 years (SD = 15.13). The study of construct validity reported two factors and 16 items, with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.92. The scale was concurrently valid with the used gold standard and obtained sensitivity values of 90.48% and specificity values of 76%. Conclusions: The AMICO scale is valid and reliable for assessing the level of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 in the adult Spanish population and is highly sensitive.

Measuring anxiety and fear of Covid-19 among older people: psychometric properties of anxiety and fear of Covid-19 scale (AMICO) in Spain

“…This validated dimensional structure would justify the use of the total scale score as an appropriate measure of COVID-19 fear and anxiety. The instrument is highly reliable, with internal consistency data even somewhat higher (Cronbach's alpha 0.94) than those reported in the general population study [ 34 ], both for the total scale and for each of the separate factors ("anxiety" and "fear"). In addition, the present study provides composite reliability data by means of the McDonald's omega coefficient, which are optimal and provide greater robustness to the reliability study of the scale.…”

“…For the assessment of the presence of anxiety and fear of COVID-19, the Anxiety and Fear of COVID-19 (AMICO) scale was used, designed and validated in previous studies, with a 2-factor dimensional structure and 16 items that explained 64.8% of the variance [ 33 , 34 ]. The reliability study offered a value of α Cronbach = 0.92 [ 33 , 34 ]. The response options of the AMICO scale ranged from 1 to 10 points, where 1 indicates strongly disagree, and 10 indicates strongly agree.…”

“…The response options of the AMICO scale ranged from 1 to 10 points, where 1 indicates strongly disagree, and 10 indicates strongly agree. The cut-off point for the general population was set at 6.4 points, above which anxiety and fear of Covid-19 is considered to exist [ 34 ].…”

“…Work with the AMICO scale has so far been carried out in the general population in Spain, and the scale shows stability and absence of differences in terms of age [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Social Determinants of Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context of the Migrant Population Living in Settlements in Spain

“…After the validation process, the scale obtained a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92. The scale obtained convergent validity, a sensitivity value of 90.48%, and a specificity value of 76% [ 17 , 18 ]. In addition, a process of cultural adaptation of the scale into French and Arabic was carried out based on the principles of good practice for the translation and cultural adaptation process for patient-reported outcomes measures [ 19 ].…”