Validation and psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the FCV-19S in children and adolescents. / Walidacja polskiej wersji skali FCV­19S oraz jej wlasciwosci psychometryczne w populacji dzieci i mlodziezy.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic might have impacted the psychological well-being of children and adolescents in Poland. The epidemiological situation is constantly changing and it is difficult to predict its further course. There are ongoing discussions about the possible benefits and consequences of children returning to school. For this reason, it is justified to develop a Polish version of an uncomplicated and easy-to-use diagnostic tool for fear assessment, which will enable the identification of children requiring special psychological support. The aim of the study was to develop the Polish adaptation of the recently published Fear of COVID-19 Scale and to examine the psychometric properties of the Polish version among the population of children and adolescents. METHODS: The sample included 167 participants aged 10 to 17 years. On-line surveys were conducted in three groups - patients with a psychiatric diagnosis, students and children from group homes. RESULTS: The analysis of the collected data showed that the Polish version of the FCV-19S has good psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the one-way structure of the scale. The reliability of the total score proved satisfactory (Cronbach's α = 0.831). In addition, group comparison analyzes showed that children from group homes reported highest fear of coronavirus. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the Polish version of the FCV-19 Scale is a valid and reliable tool which can be used in the psychological assessment of the severity of fear of COVID-19 among children and adolescent.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children with psychiatric diagnoses - multidimensional CCPCA Model.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression in children with previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. METHODS: Online questionnaires were used to investigate three groups of subjects: patients with a psychiatric diagnosis, primary school pupils, and children from children's homes. A total of 167 children with their parents or guardians participated in the study. In addition to basic statistics, a multidimensional Centroid Class Principal Component Analysis (CCPCA) model was used. RESULTS: It was found that the strongest fear of the coronavirus was experienced by children from children's homes, while the most severe depressive symptoms and state anxiety were observed among patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Parental care by assisting with school education and lack of close contact with other people (less than two metres) at parents/guardians' work had the most potent protective effect in reducing the fear of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for further research in children and adolescents to develop effective strategies for protecting their mental well-being when faced with social isolation or disease.