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Volume :40 Issue : 3 2012
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Swine Flu Anxiety among a Sample of Kuwait University Students
Auther : Othman H. Alkheder…
The outbreak of the pandemic flu, Influenza A/H1N1 (Swine Flu), in April 2009 provided a major challenge to health services around the world and caused panic among populations. The present study aims to develop a scale for assessing Swine Flu anxiety and estimating its psychometric characteristics as well as assessing possible gender differences in this variable. A total of 342 students from Kuwait University (164 males & 178 females) participated in this study. Their average age was 21.3 years, (SD=4.1), most were single (292) and living in the six Kuwaiti governorates at similar ratios. The scale consisted of 20 items covering three components: emotional, behavioral, and attitudinal. Factor analysis revealed four factors predicting 56% of the variance. The first factor (%37) consisted of 7 emotional items; The second one (%7.4) of 6 behavioral items; The third (%6.2) of 6 emotional and behavioral items; and the fourth (%5,1) of 5 items common to the other factors. For the purpose of this study, the total score was used for analyses. The scale proved to have good psychometric characteristics, which made it suitable for use in the current research. No significant differences were found between the two sexes in this measure, or between married and single participants. Also, no significant differences were found among those living in the six Kuwaiti governorates. The theory and application of this scale were discussed in the conclusion, and means of benefitting from it were considered.
Keywords: Anxiety, Health psychology, A/H1N1 (Swine Flu).