Fear and concern about the outbreak of a world war: validation of an instrument in eight Latin American countries (Third World War scale)

Mejia, Christian R. and Esteban, Renzo Felipe Carranza and Mamani-Benito, Oscar and Aveiro-Róbalo, Telmo Raúl and Zamora-Huaringa, Elvira G. and Vega-Useche, Leonel and Padilla-F, Valeria J. and Almada-Lesmo, Deisy P. and Castrillón-Lozano, Jorge Andrés and Martínez-Bourdier, Alan A. and Armada, Jose and Alvarez-Risco, Aldo and Del-Aguila-Arcentales, Shyla and Davies, Neal M. and Yáñez, Jaime A. UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, UNSPECIFIED, jaime.yanez@unini.edu.mx (2025) Fear and concern about the outbreak of a world war: validation of an instrument in eight Latin American countries (Third World War scale). BMC Psychology, 13 (1). ISSN 2050-7283

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Abstract

Objective The aim is to validate a test in Latin America that measures fear perception and concern about a world war. Methodology It is an instrumental study using Google Forms. It obtained 1684 participants in eight countries in Latin America. The creation of the first instrument was based on previous questionnaires that measured fear in the face of unexpected events, and other specific questions were added in the context of the war. Subsequently, the entire validation process was carried out. It was calculated the values of skewness, kurtosis, and communalities. Results Exploratory factor analysis showed that two factors were generated, confirmed by the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test (KMO = 0,962) and Barlett’s test (19558.5; df = 78; p = 0.000). Confirmatory factor analysis yielded seven items in two factors (χ2 = 139,85, df = 13, p = 0.001; RMR = 0.050; GFI = 0.980; CFI = 0,990; TLI = 0.980; and RMSEA = 0.080). The global Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92 (for factor 1 = 0.98, and factor 2 = 0.88). Discussion The final instrument with seven questions allows to measure adequately general fear (factor 1), and physical and mental repercussions due to the possibility of the outbreak of a world war (factor 2).

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	War; Repercussions; Physical health; Mental health; Latin America; World war
Subjects:	Subjects > Psychology
Divisions:	Ibero-american International University > Research > Scientific Production
Depositing User:	Sr Bibliotecario
Date Deposited:	15 May 2025 08:54
Last Modified:	15 May 2025 08:54
URI:	http://repositorio.funiber.org/id/eprint/17791

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