Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of new fear of the coronavirus questionnaire

Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Mar 1;103(9):e37282. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037282.

Abstract

The fear of COVID-19 significantly impacting the health of people globally. This study translated newly developed measurement tool New Fear of the Coronavirus Questionnaire (New_FCQ) into Chinese language and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of New_FCQ among Chinese population. A total of 522 participants were included in the study. Internal consistency, construct validity, criterion validity, and concurrent validity of the Chinese version of New_FCQ were assessed in this study. The Chinese version of New_FCQ had excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97) and exploratory factor analysis demonstrated one-dimensional structure of the Chinese version of New_FCQ. The preliminary criterion validity revealed statistically significant differences in the fear of COVID-19 scores based on age and education level (P = .002 and P = .03, respectively). The good concurrent validity also established with the Chinese version Fear of COVID-19 Scale(P < .001). Psychometric proportions of the Chinese version of New_FCQ were established, which exhibited sufficient validity and reliability among Chinese population.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Coronavirus*
  • Fear
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Psychometrics / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires