Adapting and validating the coronavirus-19 phobia scale (C19P-S) in Korea

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread fear, termed coronaphobia.
• Existing screening tools like the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) require cultural adaptation and validation for diverse populations.
• No validated Korean version of the C19P-S was available.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and validate the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) for use in a Korean population.
• To establish the reliability and validity of the Korean version (C19P-SK).

Main Methods:

• Cross-cultural adaptation of the C19P-S into Korean.
• Psychometric validation using a sample of 321 Korean adults.
• Reliability analysis (Cronbach's alpha) and structural, convergent, and discriminant validity assessments.

Main Results:

• The adapted Korean C19P-S (C19P-SK) demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of .95.
• The scale's structural validity was confirmed.
• Convergent and discriminant validity were established, supporting its psychometric properties.

Conclusions:

• The Korean COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-SK) is a reliable and valid instrument.
• The C19P-SK is suitable for assessing COVID-19 related phobia in the Korean population.
• This validated tool can aid in understanding and managing coronaphobia in Korea.