The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population

Giovanni Mansueto; Sara Palmieri; Claudia Marino; Gabriele Caselli; Sandra Sassaroli; Giovanni Maria Ruggiero; Ana V. Nikčević; Marcantonio M. Spada

doi:10.1002/cpp.2767

The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population

Giovanni Mansueto, Sara Palmieri, Claudia Marino, Gabriele Caselli, Sandra Sassaroli, Giovanni Maria Ruggiero, Ana V. Nikčević, Marcantonio M. Spada

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a quick and reliable scale assessing dysfunctional coping strategies activated in response to COVID-19 fear and threat. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary validation of the Italian version of the C-19ASS and investigated whether the C-19ASS would mediate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and psychological outcomes. Method: In Study 1, a community sample of 271 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and results were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis. In study 2, a community sample of 484 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and a series of measures assessing COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 fear, functional impairment, personality traits, depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety. Internal consistency, concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. Path analyses were run. Results: Factor analysis identified a two-factor solution (i.e., C-19ASS Perseveration and C-19ASS Avoidance) and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model best fits the data. The Italian version of the C-19ASS showed good internal consistency. There was also evidence of convergent validity and incremental validity. Path analyses showed that C-19ASS Perseveration mediates the relationship between emotional stability and psychological symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety). Conclusion: The Italian version of the C-19ASS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome. The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce psychological symptoms typically linked to pandemic events, such as depression generalized anxiety and health anxiety.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1972-1990
Number of pages	19
Journal	Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Volume	29
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2022

Bibliographical note

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Mansueto, G., Palmieri, S., Marino, C., Caselli, G., Sassaroli, S., Ruggiero, G. M., Nikčević, A. V., & Spada, M. M. (2022). The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(6), 1972–1990. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

Keywords

COVID-19 anxiety
COVID-19 anxiety syndrome
depression
generalized anxiety
health anxiety
personality traits

Access to Document

10.1002/cpp.2767

Mansueto, G. et al. The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS)Accepted author manuscript, 280 KB
Mansueto G

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Mansueto, G., Palmieri, S., Marino, C., Caselli, G., Sassaroli, S., Ruggiero, G. M., Nikčević, A. V., & Spada, M. M. (2022). The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 29(6), 1972-1990. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767

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title = "The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population",

abstract = "Introduction: The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a quick and reliable scale assessing dysfunctional coping strategies activated in response to COVID-19 fear and threat. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary validation of the Italian version of the C-19ASS and investigated whether the C-19ASS would mediate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and psychological outcomes. Method: In Study 1, a community sample of 271 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and results were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis. In study 2, a community sample of 484 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and a series of measures assessing COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 fear, functional impairment, personality traits, depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety. Internal consistency, concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. Path analyses were run. Results: Factor analysis identified a two-factor solution (i.e., C-19ASS Perseveration and C-19ASS Avoidance) and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model best fits the data. The Italian version of the C-19ASS showed good internal consistency. There was also evidence of convergent validity and incremental validity. Path analyses showed that C-19ASS Perseveration mediates the relationship between emotional stability and psychological symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety). Conclusion: The Italian version of the C-19ASS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome. The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce psychological symptoms typically linked to pandemic events, such as depression generalized anxiety and health anxiety.",

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author = "Giovanni Mansueto and Sara Palmieri and Claudia Marino and Gabriele Caselli and Sandra Sassaroli and Ruggiero, {Giovanni Maria} and Nik{\v c}evi{\'c}, {Ana V.} and Spada, {Marcantonio M.}",

note = "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Mansueto, G., Palmieri, S., Marino, C., Caselli, G., Sassaroli, S., Ruggiero, G. M., Nik{\v c}evi{\'c}, A. V., & Spada, M. M. (2022). The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(6), 1972–1990. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley{\textquoteright}s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.",

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month = jun,

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Mansueto, G, Palmieri, S, Marino, C, Caselli, G, Sassaroli, S, Ruggiero, GM, Nikčević, AV & Spada, MM 2022, 'The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population', Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 1972-1990. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767

The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population. / Mansueto, Giovanni; Palmieri, Sara; Marino, Claudia et al.
In: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Vol. 29, No. 6, 30.06.2022, p. 1972-1990.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale

T2 - Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population

AU - Mansueto, Giovanni

AU - Palmieri, Sara

AU - Marino, Claudia

AU - Caselli, Gabriele

AU - Sassaroli, Sandra

AU - Ruggiero, Giovanni Maria

AU - Nikčević, Ana V.

AU - Spada, Marcantonio M.

N1 - This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Mansueto, G., Palmieri, S., Marino, C., Caselli, G., Sassaroli, S., Ruggiero, G. M., Nikčević, A. V., & Spada, M. M. (2022). The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(6), 1972–1990. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2767. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

PY - 2022/6/30

Y1 - 2022/6/30

N2 - Introduction: The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a quick and reliable scale assessing dysfunctional coping strategies activated in response to COVID-19 fear and threat. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary validation of the Italian version of the C-19ASS and investigated whether the C-19ASS would mediate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and psychological outcomes. Method: In Study 1, a community sample of 271 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and results were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis. In study 2, a community sample of 484 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and a series of measures assessing COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 fear, functional impairment, personality traits, depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety. Internal consistency, concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. Path analyses were run. Results: Factor analysis identified a two-factor solution (i.e., C-19ASS Perseveration and C-19ASS Avoidance) and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model best fits the data. The Italian version of the C-19ASS showed good internal consistency. There was also evidence of convergent validity and incremental validity. Path analyses showed that C-19ASS Perseveration mediates the relationship between emotional stability and psychological symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety). Conclusion: The Italian version of the C-19ASS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome. The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce psychological symptoms typically linked to pandemic events, such as depression generalized anxiety and health anxiety.

AB - Introduction: The COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) is a quick and reliable scale assessing dysfunctional coping strategies activated in response to COVID-19 fear and threat. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary validation of the Italian version of the C-19ASS and investigated whether the C-19ASS would mediate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and psychological outcomes. Method: In Study 1, a community sample of 271 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and results were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis. In study 2, a community sample of 484 participants completed the Italian version of the C-19ASS and a series of measures assessing COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 fear, functional impairment, personality traits, depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety. Internal consistency, concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. Path analyses were run. Results: Factor analysis identified a two-factor solution (i.e., C-19ASS Perseveration and C-19ASS Avoidance) and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model best fits the data. The Italian version of the C-19ASS showed good internal consistency. There was also evidence of convergent validity and incremental validity. Path analyses showed that C-19ASS Perseveration mediates the relationship between emotional stability and psychological symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety). Conclusion: The Italian version of the C-19ASS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome. The COVID-19 anxiety syndrome could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce psychological symptoms typically linked to pandemic events, such as depression generalized anxiety and health anxiety.

KW - COVID-19 anxiety

KW - COVID-19 anxiety syndrome

KW - depression

KW - generalized anxiety

KW - health anxiety

KW - personality traits

U2 - 10.1002/cpp.2767

DO - 10.1002/cpp.2767

M3 - Article

SN - 1063-3995

VL - 29

SP - 1972

EP - 1990

JO - Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

JF - Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

IS - 6

ER -

The Italian COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale: Investigation of the COVID-19 anxiety syndrome and its association with psychological symptoms in an Italian population

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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