Fear During COVID-19 pandemic: Fear of COVID-19 Scale Measurement Properties

Anxiety, Optimism, and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Students in a University in Southern Thailand during the 2021 Academic Year

This study examined the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors, including anxiety and optimism, surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic among Thai university students. An online observational cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2021. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed using R. In total, 409 university students participated in the study. Most reported high anxiety levels (69.4%), while more than half also expressed high levels of optimism associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (51.1%). Only 4.4% were unvaccinated, among whom 50% were hesitant to receive vaccination (2.2%). Per statistical analysis, those who perceived the available vaccines as low safety were significantly associated with a higher risk of vaccine hesitancy (p = 0.03). In contrast, those who reported that they would likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if recommended to by their doctors or pharmacists were significantly associated with lower vaccine hesitancy (p = 0.048). However, both anxiety and optimism regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were not associated with vaccine hesitancy. Thus, healthcare workers play an important role in COVID-19 vaccination counseling to prevent transmission. Health education during the pandemic should focus on COVID-19 infection as well as COVID-19 vaccines, including their safety and their adverse effects.

Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of Hungarian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has had a global major healthcare, social and economic impact. In present study we aim to adapt the Fear of COVID-19 Scale to Hungarian.

Materials and methods

Forward-backward translation method was used to translate the English version of the scale to Hungarian. Participants were a convenience sample of 2175 university students and employees. The study was conducted between January 18^th and February 12^th 2021. The test battery included Hungarian versions of Fear of COVID-19 scale, short Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-H) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results

The scale showed one-factor structure, the loadings on the factor were significant and strong (from .47 to .84). Internal consistency was very good (α = .84). Construct validity for the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was supported by significant and positive correlations with STAI (r = 0.402; p < 0.001) and BDI-H (r = 0.270; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Hungarian version of Fear of COVID-19 Scale is a reliable and valid tool in assessing fear of coronavirus.