Validation of the French COVID-Related Thoughts and Behavioral Symptoms Questionnaire (Cov-Tabs): A self-report assessment

Ali Oker; Yasmine Laraki; Royce Anders; Erica Fongaro; Delphine Capdevielle; Stéphane Raffard

doi:10.1016/j.encep.2023.11.010

Validation of the French COVID-Related Thoughts and Behavioral Symptoms Questionnaire (Cov-Tabs): A self-report assessment

Encephale. 2024 Feb 3:S0013-7006(23)00217-8. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.11.010. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ali Oker¹, Yasmine Laraki², Royce Anders³, Erica Fongaro⁴, Delphine Capdevielle⁵, Stéphane Raffard²

Affiliations

¹ Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, C2S, Reims, France. Electronic address: Ali.Oker@univ-reims.fr.
² CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Laboratoire EPSYLON (EA 4556), Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
³ Laboratoire EPSYLON (EA 4556), Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
⁴ CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
⁵ CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Laboratoire EPSYLON (EA 4556), Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France.

PMID: 38311477
DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.11.010

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-Related Thoughts and Behavioral Symptoms (Cov-Tabs) is a self-reported questionnaire developed to identify the presence of psychological distress and anxiety-related behavior associated with COVID-19. This scale has been used since the first episodes of mass contamination of COVID-19 disease in the USA without psychometric validation analysis. The objective of this paper is to validate the French version of the Cov-TaBS.

Method: In this study, we assessed a French translation of Cov-Tabs in 300 subjects from the general population. Moreover, we assessed convergent and discriminant validities using an anxiety and depression scale and a paranoid ideation scale. Statistical analyses consisted of evaluating internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity as well.

Results: The French translation of the Cov-Tabs demonstrated high internal consistency and reliability, as well as good temporal stability over a period of less than 2 weeks. It also showed strong convergent validity with anxiety and depression traits and divergent validity with paranoid ideation.

Conclusion: Our study indicates that the French version of the Cov-Tabs has robust psychometric properties and is a valid tool for evaluating behavioral symptomatology and thoughts related to COVID-19 disease. Therefore, the French version of the Cov-Tabs is a valid tool that can be used in French-speaking individuals.

Keywords: Anxiety; Anxiété; Auto-questionnaire; Détresse et comportements; Pandemic; Pandémie; Psychometric validity; Self-reported questionnaire; Thoughts and behavioral symptoms; Validité psychométrique.