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The Monkeypox Fear Scale: development and initial validation in a Peruvian sample.
Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez1, Lindsey W Vilca2, Carlos Carbajal-León2
1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Privada del Norte, Av. Alfredo Mendiola, Los Olivos, Lima, 6062, Peru. tomas.caycho@upn.pe.
BMC Psychology
|November 29, 2022
Summary
This study developed and validated the Monkeypox Fear Scale (MFS) for the Peruvian population. The MFS demonstrates reliable psychometric properties to assess emotional and physiological fear related to monkeypox.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Fear is a common emotional response during infectious disease outbreaks.
- Assessing specific fears, like monkeypox fear, is crucial for public health.
- A validated scale is needed to measure monkeypox-related fear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the Monkeypox Fear Scale (MFS).
- To assess the psychometric properties of the MFS in the Peruvian population.
Main Methods:
- Scale development and validation using Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT).
- Data collected from 451 participants in Peru (61% women, 39% men).
- Analysis included factor structure, reliability, and measurement invariance.
Main Results:
- The MFS exhibited a two-factor structure (emotional and physiological fear).
- The scale demonstrated good reliability and adequate item parameters.
- Measurement invariance was confirmed between male and female groups.
Conclusions:
- The Monkeypox Fear Scale (MFS) is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing monkeypox fear in Peru.
- Findings support the MFS's utility in understanding the mental health impact of monkeypox.
- The scale is particularly effective for measuring high levels of fear.
