Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

Abstract

Fear is a central emotional response to imminent threats such as the coronavirus-19 12 disease (COVID-19). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) assesses the severity of 13 fear towards COVID-19. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the 14 Arabic version of the FCV-19S. Using a forward-backward translation, the FCV-19S was 15 translated into Arabic. An online survey using the Arabic versions of FCV-19S and the 16 Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was administered. Reliability and 17 concurrent and confirmatory validity were examined. The dataset consisted of 693 Saudi 18 participants. The internal consistency of the Arabic FCV-19S was satisfactory (α = .88), 19 with sound concurrent validity indicated by significant and positive correlations with 20 HADS (r = .66). The unidimensional structure of the FCV-19S was confirmed. The 21 Arabic version of the FCV-19S is psychometrically robust and can be used in research 22 assessing the psychological impact of COVID-19 among a Saudi adult population.