Assessment of Fears of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Spain

Due to the role that pandemic fears may play functionally and in terms of prevention, there is a need to monitor the changes and evolution of these fears. The present study aims to validate the revised Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCS), which is used to measure Covid-19 fears, one year after the onset of the pandemic and the inception of the lockdown in Spain. Data were reported by 3 083 Spanish adults who answered the "Spaniards’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic Survey" of the Sociological Research Center (February 2021). Results of EFA, CFA (RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.965, TLI = 0.955, and SRMR = 0.029), and other validity and reliability indices (e.g., Cronbach α ranged between 0.76 and 0.84) supported a four-factor solution: personal health-related fears, loved ones’ health-related fears, economic-employment-related fears, and social-related fears. Given the possibilities of having another crisis like the one created by Covid, it is important to have validated scales that can assess pandemic fears, due to the consequences these emotions can have for both individuals and society.