Development of a Covid-19 Anxiety Scale “Investigation of Validity and Reliability”

Abstract

It was needed to develop a scale to determine the fear and anxiety developed by individuals against Covid-19 and the situations in repetitive protective behaviour. The aim of this study is to bring to the literature a scale that can measure the changes in people caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was used to analyse the reliability of the data. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, the Covid-19 Anxiety Scale was formed by 22 questions and 4 dimensions. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was calculated for each factor and the whole scale. Accordingly, the reliability value of the twelve-question "Objective and Neurotic Anxiety" dimension (0,931) was in the "high reliable" range. The five-question "Anxiety about Contacting People" dimension (0,773); the three-question "Compulsive Behaviour" dimension (0,716) and the two-question "Sleep Hygiene" dimension (0,741) were in the "quite reliable" range. The total reliability of the Covid-19 Anxiety scale was 0,935.CR and AVE coefficients were calculated for each dimension of the scale to analyse internal consistency and reconfirm its reliability. It seems clear that the Covid-19 Anxiety Scale created as a result of these processes is a reliable tool that can be used to measure the psychological and behavioural responses of people.