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Cross-cultural validation of the new version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale in twelve Latin American countries
Author(s)
Caycho‐Rodríguez, Tomás
Private University of the North
Valencia, Pablo D.
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Carbajal‐León, Carlos
Private University of the North
Vivanco-Vidal, Andrea
Peruvian University of Applied Sciences
Saroli-Araníbar, Daniela
Peruvian University of Applied Sciences
Reyes-Bossio, Mario
Peruvian University of Applied Sciences
White, Michel
Rojas-Jara, Claudio
Catholic University of the Maule
Polanco-Carrasco, Roberto
Gallegos, Miguel
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Cervigni, Mauricio
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Martino, Pablo
National University of Rosario
Palacios, Diego Alejandro
Universidad Mariano Galvez
Moreta‐Herrera, Rodrigo
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Samaniego-Pinho, Antonio
Universidad Nacional de Asunción
Lobos-Rivera, Marlon Elías
Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador
Figares, Andrés Buschiazzo
Puerta-Cortés, Diana Ximena
Universidad de Ibagué
Corrales-Reyes, Ibraín Enrique
University of Granma
Calderón, Raymundo
Universidad del Valle de México
Pinto, Bismarck
Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo
Ferrari, Ilka Franco
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais
Flores-Mendoza, Carmen
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Date Issued
19 de enero de 2022
Type
Article
Volume
42
Issue
34
Series/Report No.
Current Psychology
Start Page
30612
End Page
30629
ISSN
1046-1310
1936-4733
Abstract
The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was recently developed to assess dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19. Although different studies reported that the CAS is psychometrically sound, it is unclear whether it is invariant across countries. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS in twelve Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). A total of 5196 people participated, with a mean age of 34.06 (SD = 26.54). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS across countries and gender. Additionally, the graded response model (GRM) was used to provide a global representation of the representativeness of the scale with respect to the COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety construct. The unidimensional structure of the five-item CAS was not confirmed in all countries. Therefore, it was suggested that a four-item model of the CAS (CAS-4) provides a better fit across the twelve countries and reliable scores. Multigroup CFA showed that the CAS-4 exhibits scalar invariance across all twelve countries and all genders. In addition, the CAS-4 items are more informative at average and high levels of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety than at lower levels. According to the results, the CAS-4 is an instrument with strong cross-cultural validity and is suitable for cross-cultural comparisons of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety symptoms in the general population of the twelve Latin American countries evaluated. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02563-0.