Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCV‐19S) across countries: Measurement invariance issues

Aim The threats of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have caused fears worldwide. Fear COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) was recently developed to assess the fear COVID-19. Although many studies found that FCV-19S is psychometrically sound, it unclear whether invariant across countries. present study aimed examine measurement invariance eleven Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Using data collected from prior research on Bangladesh (N = 8,550), United Kingdom 344), Brazil 1,843), Taiwan 539), Italy 249), New Zealand 317), Iran 717), Cuba 772), Pakistan 937), Japan 1,079) and France 316), comprising a total 15,663 participants, used multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) Rasch differential item functioning (DIF) country, gender age (children aged below 18 years, young middle-aged adults between 60 older people above years). Results unidimensional structure confirmed. Multigroup CFA showed partially country fully age. DIF findings were consistent with CFA. Many items displayed for few age, no gender. Conclusion Based results study, good psychometric instrument during pandemic period. Moreover, use supported in at least ten countries satisfactory properties.