Development and psychometric validation of the Pandemic Risk Perception Scale in healthcare professionals
4 affiliations
- 1University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
- 2Hospital Comarcal Santa Ana, Granada, Spain
- 3Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methodology, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
- 4Strategic Chair of Security, Emergencies and Disasters, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
Abstract
Introduction: Perceived pandemic-related risk may influence emotional responses, preventive behaviors, and psychological adjustment among healthcare professionals working in high-risk clinical settings. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Pandemic Risk Perception Scale (PRPS) in healthcare professionals.
Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted with 405 healthcare professionals aged 22–65 years working in emergency and critical care settings in southern Spain. The PRPS was developed from an initial pool of 23 items and reduced to 12 items based on item analysis and exploratory examination of its dimensional structure. Its factor structure was subsequently examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was assessed using McDonald’s omega. Evidence of validity based on relationships with other variables was examined through correlations with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and psychological wellbeing.
Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure, with satisfactory overall model fit (χ2 = 168.31, df = 54, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.07, 90% CI [0.06, 0.08]). Standardized factor loadings ranged from 0.56 to 0.92, and McDonald’s omega was 0.95. PRPS scores were positively associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with psychological wellbeing (r = −0.22, p < 0.001). The association with generalized anxiety symptoms was small and not statistically significant (r = 0.069, p = 0.164).
Conclusion: The findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the PRPS as a brief and reliable measure of perceived pandemic-related risk among healthcare professionals. Its associations with depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing provide additional evidence of validity based on relationships with other variables. Further validation in independent and diverse samples is needed before extending its use to other populations, healthcare systems, or future public health emergencies.
Related
- Psychometric properties and validation of the Hungarian version of the sleep hygiene index among healthcare professionals
- Development and psychometric validation of a tool to assess healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in pediatric injury rehabilitation in Northern Tanzania
- Perception and utilization of artificial intelligence in healthcare research among professionals in India: a cross-sectional study
- Development and psychometric validation of a multidimensional menstrual hygiene scale
- Development and initial psychometric validation of the Organ Donation Scale for University Students (ODS-US)
BibTeX
@article{badia2026development,
title = {{Development and psychometric validation of the Pandemic Risk Perception Scale in healthcare professionals}},
author = {Maria Carmen Badía and Rafael Alarcón and Javier Trillo and Jesús Miranda-Páez},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1878684},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1878684},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Development and psychometric validation of the Pandemic Risk Perception Scale in healthcare professionals
AU - Maria Carmen Badía
AU - Rafael Alarcón
AU - Javier Trillo
AU - Jesús Miranda-Páez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1878684
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1878684
AB - Introduction: Perceived pandemic-related risk may influence emotional responses, preventive behaviors, and psychological adjustment among healthcare professionals working in high-risk clinical settings. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Pandemic Risk Perception Scale (PRPS) in healthcare professionals. Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted with 405 healthcare professionals aged 22–65 years working in emergency and critical care settings in southern Spain. The PRPS was developed from an initial pool of 23 items and reduced to 12 items based on item analysis and exploratory examination of its dimensional structure. Its factor structure was subsequently examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was assessed using McDonald’s omega. Evidence of validity based on relationships with other variables was examined through correlations with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and psychological wellbeing. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure, with satisfactory overall model fit (χ2 = 168.31, df = 54, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.07, 90% CI [0.06, 0.08]). Standardized factor loadings ranged from 0.56 to 0.92, and McDonald’s omega was 0.95. PRPS scores were positively associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with psychological wellbeing (r = −0.22, p < 0.001). The association with generalized anxiety symptoms was small and not statistically significant (r = 0.069, p = 0.164). Conclusion: The findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the PRPS as a brief and reliable measure of perceived pandemic-related risk among healthcare professionals. Its associations with depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing provide additional evidence of validity based on relationships with other variables. Further validation in independent and diverse samples is needed before extending its use to other populations, healthcare systems, or future public health emergencies.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -