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 InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02563-0.
Highlights
In Latin America, the first diagnosed case of COVID-19 was reported on February 25, 2020 in Brazil (Rodriguez-Morales et al, 2020)
The findings provide evidence that the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS)-4 is a valid measure of dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19 in the general population of 12 different Latin American countries
The CAS-4 was shown to be invariant between groups of men and women
Summary
In Latin America, the first diagnosed case of COVID-19 was reported on February 25, 2020 in Brazil (Rodriguez-Morales et al, 2020). Pandemic preparedness varies within the region and different countries are vulnerable to the disease due to limited resources in their health systems, a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, late responses by populist governments, as well as high rates of poverty and inequality (Burki, 2020; Pablos-Méndez et al, 2020). These factors affect the transmission dynamics and impact of COVID-19 in Latin America, which has implications for the dynamics of the pandemic globally (Miller et al, 2020)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
