Validation of the French Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and Its Associations with Depression,Anxiety, and Differential Emotions

The COVID-19 crisis represents a global health concern, including mental health. Regarding the necessity to assess anxiety related to COVID-19, a scale was developed (Ahorsu et al., 2020). The goal of the present study was to validate the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in French (official language in 29 countries), and investigate its relationship with indicators of affective disturbances. The sample comprised 316 participants (271 females) recruited online during the French lockdown. They were from several regions of France. The FCV-19S underwent a forward-backward translation procedure. Its psychometric properties were evaluated with the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The French FCV-19S demonstrated a stable unidimensional structure with robust psychometric properties (strong internal consistency, good convergent and divergent validity, and good test-retest validity). With its robust psychometric properties in assessing the unidimensional construct of the fear of COVID-19, this scale will help to provide a better understanding of the relationship between emotions and psychological or psychiatric disorders during the pandemics in French-speaking countries.

     

Energy cost of activity and exercise in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), perturbations of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) may be a major determinant of altered nutrition and growth. Measurement of TDEE is problematic, though the flex-heart rate method (FHRM) provides a close estimation of TDEE, as compared to the cost-prohibitive, gold standard, the double-labeled water method, and permits estimates of the energy cost of daily activities (ECA) above resting energy expenditure (REE). We hypothesize that alterations in ECA affects TDEE in CF. PURPOSE: To measure components of TDEE in adolescents with CF and normal lung function compared with controls, and to determine whether ECA can be improved by diet and exercise. METHODS: Clinically stable CF subjects (aged 9-13, n=12) and age- and gender-matched controls (n=13) had repeated measurements of TDEE by FHRM, REE, and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) during a 6-week exercise and diet program. RESULTS: While the mean REE was similar in both groups, ECA was significantly lower in CF adolescents as compared to controls (p=0.02). During CPET, maximal exercise in CF was characterized by hyperventilation, which was unrelated to ventilation-perfusion mismatching. There were no changes in REE after dietary intervention. CONCLUSION: ECA in CF adolescents with normal lung function is lower when compared to healthy controls. These findings support the hypothesis that clinically stable patients with CF have inefficient energy metabolism or alternatively conserve energy during activities of daily living.