COVID-19-Specific Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Scale (C19-OCS)

Abstract

The COVID-19-Specific Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Scale (C19-OCS; Avşar & Avşar, 2023) is an instrument designed to measure obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms in individuals experiencing COVID-19. The development of the C19-OCS involved a comprehensive literature review focusing on scales specifically created for the COVID-19 context. Initially, 49 items were generated, and after content validity analysis, 17 items remained. The scale was validated using a sample of volunteers, primarily university students, in Turkey. Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA) was employed, and the automated item selection procedure (AISP) indicated the presence of a dominant factor. Exploratory factor analysis subsequently identified a final 16 items distributed across two distinct factors. Comprehensive reliability assessments were conducted, including internal consistency measures (Cronbach’s alpha (α), Guttman lambda 2 (λ), latent class reliability coefficient (LCRC), composite reliability (CR), McDonald’s omega (ω)) and test-retest reliability. Validity was also thoroughly evaluated, encompassing convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity.

Keywords

Contamination Fears and Cleaning, Coronavirus Disease, COVID-19, Mokken Scale Analysis, Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms, Obsessive Thoughts, Compulsions, Contagion, Fear, Obsessions, Psychiatric Symptoms, Mental Health and Illness Assessment

Authors

Avşar, Asiye Şengül; Avşar, Volkan

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Purpose

The C19-OCS was developed with the specific aim of quantifying obsessive thoughts linked to contamination fears and washing compulsions that are particularly associated with COVID-19.

Validity

Convergent Validity: The Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values for the C19-OCS were determined to be 0.53 for the first factor and 0.63 for the second factor. These values surpass the commonly accepted threshold of 0.50, providing strong evidence for the convergent validity of the scale as per Hair et al. (2019).

Discriminant Validity: To establish discriminant validity, both the calculated AVE values and the correlation between the dimensions of the C19-OCS were examined. The square roots of the AVE values for the dimensions were 0.73 and 0.79, respectively. These values were found to be higher than the correlation between the dimensions (0.71), which, according to Fornell & Larcker (1981), serves as evidence of the scale’s discriminative validity.

Content Validity: No data is Available

Criterion-Related Validity: No data is Available

Reliability

Internal Consistency: The internal consistency of the C19-OCS was assessed using various coefficients. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for both the total scale and its individual factors ranged from 0.82 to 0.92. Similarly, Guttman lambda 2 (λ) coefficients were found to be between 0.82 and 0.92. The composite reliability (CR) values ranged from 0.91 to 0.95, and McDonald’s omega (ω) coefficients were between 0.82 and 0.92, all indicating high internal consistency.

Test-Retest Reliability: The test-retest reliability was evaluated over a two-week interval. The coefficients for test-retest reliability ranged from r = 0.74 to 0.78 (p < 0.01), suggesting good temporal stability of the scale.

Factor Analysis

Mokken Homogeneity Model (MHM): During the application of the Mokken Homogeneity Model, the scalability coefficient (H) was considered as the primary evaluation criterion. It was observed that item 3 (“I am tired of watching the news about COVID-19”) had a scalability coefficient below 0.30, indicating that it did not scale to MHM. Consequently, this item was removed from the scale, and the MHM analyses were re-conducted with the remaining items.

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA): An Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed using the principal axis factoring (PAF) method, with Parallel Analysis (PA) for construct validity. The analysis of the sixteen items provided support for a two-factor structure, which collectively explained 49.30% of the total variance. The identified factors are “Obsessive thoughts” and “Contamination fears and cleaning.”

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA): The results from the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for the C19-OCS were utilized specifically for the calculation of Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values. The goodness-of-fit values obtained from the CFA were not directly presented as standalone proof of construct validity for the C19-OCS.

Instrument: COVID-19-Specific Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Scale (C19-OCS)

Test Type: Original

Format: Participants are instructed to rate their agreement with each item based on their experiences over the past month. A 5-point Likert scale is used for responses, ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. The administration method is electronic.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Human; Male; Female

Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older), including Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs), Thirties (30-39 yrs), Middle Age (40-64 yrs), and Aged (65 yrs & older).

Population Details: The study was conducted in Turkey. Respondents were adults aged between 18 and 65 years old.

Test Methodology: The methodology included Test Validity (Content Validity, Convergent Validity, Criterion Validity, Discriminant Validity), Test Reliability (Internal Consistency, Test-Retest Reliability), and Factor Analysis (Exploratory Factor Analysis).

Keywords

Contamination Fears and Cleaning, Coronavirus Disease, COVID-19, Mokken Scale Analysis, Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms, Obsessive Thoughts

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier:
Avşar, Volkan: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9427-9425

Affiliation:
Avşar, Asiye Şengül: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Department of Measurement and Evaluation in Education
Avşar, Volkan: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Department of Psychological Counselling and Guidance

Email addresses:
Avşar, Volkan: [email protected]

Correspondence Address:
Avşar, Volkan: [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Contact Corresponding Author
Fee: No
Test Year: 2023

References

Şengül Avşar, A., & Avşar, V. (2023). Development of the COVID-19-specific obsessive compulsive symptoms scale with various validity and reliability proofs. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 16(1), 58–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-022-00155-9

Items of the COVID-19-Specific Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Scale (C19-OCS)

This is a 16-item measure. The specific items are available in the Appendix of the source reference, on Page 75.

Factors and Subscales:

• Obsessive thoughts

• Contamination fears and cleaning