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The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory: A validation study
Irvin Sam Schonfeld1, Tasmyn Prytherch2, Mark Cropley2
1The City College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, USA.
Journal of Health Psychology
|July 5, 2022
Summary
The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory (PAI) reliably measures pandemic-related anxiety. This tool is valid for research and clinical use, identifying factors like financial strain and social support linked to pandemic anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Science
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic heightened public health concerns regarding widespread anxiety.
- Existing measures may not fully capture anxiety specific to pandemic conditions.
- A validated instrument is needed to assess pandemic-related anxiety symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Pandemic Anxiety Inventory (PAI).
- To assess the reliability and validity of the PAI in a British adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 379 British adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Reliability was assessed using internal consistency measures.
- Criterion, convergent, and discriminant validity were examined using correlational and bifactor analyses.
Main Results:
- The PAI demonstrated excellent reliability and solid criterion validity.
- Pandemic anxiety correlated with reduced social support, financial strain, job loss, and economic insecurity.
- The PAI showed solid convergent and discriminant validity, confirming its structure.
Conclusions:
- The Pandemic Anxiety Inventory (PAI) is a reliable and valid measure for assessing pandemic-specific anxiety.
- The PAI can be effectively utilized in both research settings and clinical practice.
- Findings highlight key psychosocial factors associated with pandemic anxiety.
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