Fear of COVID-19 scale: Assessing fear of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil

This study aimed to assess the fear of COVID-19 in the Brazilian population, validate the FCV-19S and examine the association of its scores with sociodemographic and pandemic-related variables. A total of 7430 participants were recruited in an online survey. From the factor analysis results, FCV-19S proved to be suitable, indicating a higher level of fear for women and also for those aged 18-29 years. Besides, belonging to a high-risk group and having relatives diagnosed or deceased by COVID-19 showed a positive association with fear. These findings pointed out the most vulnerable groups, which can assist in planning mental health actions.

Automated summary

This study aimed to assess the fear of COVID-19 in the Brazilian population, validate the FCV-19S questionnaire, and examine its scores association with sociodemographic and pandemic-related variables. The study found that women and individuals aged 18-29 showed higher levels of fear. Additionally, belonging to a high-risk group and having relatives diagnosed or deceased by COVID-19 were positively associated with fear.