An assessment of the psychometric properties and psychological correlates of the Greek COVID‐19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C‐19ASS)

Abstract

AbstractIn Greece, the COVID‐19 pandemic was associated with social isolation, economic crisis, considerable unemployment, and an escalation of psychological distress. Given the potential of COVID‐19 to engender a long‐lasting impact on mental health, validating the COVID‐19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C‐19ASS) may be beneficial in determining if fear‐based behaviors may persist post‐pandemic. This is a psychometric study examining the C‐19ASS features across a general sample of Greeks (n = 912; female = 78%; mean age = 32.35, ±9.25). The Greek C‐19ASS demonstrated a two‐factor structure consistent with the original scale's perseveration and avoidance subscales. This structure was supported by confirmatory factor analysis, which demonstrated a strong fit and robust reliability along with good divergent and convergent validity evidenced by correlational analyses. The incremental validity test revealed that the Greek C‐19ASS predicted functional impairment and COVID‐19 anxiety independently of health anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depressive symptoms, the Big Five personality traits, pandemic‐related factors, and demographic variables. The findings were discussed using a self‐regulatory executive function model as a theoretical background to discuss this pandemic‐related phenomenon.