Examination of the Japanese version of the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale among Adults Using Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory1,2

Abstract

AbstractGlobally, the COVID‐19 pandemic has impaired every aspect of life, especially causing much psychological damage—for instance, increasing the risk of suicide. Intense fear and anxiety are considered to play a central role in mental health problems. This study examined the psychological properties of the Japanese version of the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCV‐19S) using classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT). Five hundred fifty participants aged 18–69 years and from across Japan completed questionnaires, including the Japanese FCV‐19S, the Japanese Depression Anxiety Stress Scales‐15 (DASS‐15), and the Japanese version of the Kessler 6 (K6). CTT showed that each item of the Japanese FCV‐19S had no ceiling and floor effect and was close to the normal distribution, and IRT revealed that each item had an appropriate parameter of discrimination and difficulty. Finally, the Japanese FCV‐19S was shown to have an acceptable reliability and moderate good concurrent validity. Consequently, the Japanese FCV‐19S has robust psychometric properties and can be useful for early detection of adults impacted by the COVID‐19 pandemic.