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Introduction: The present research aims to construct and determine the psychometric properties of the "Inventory of Negative and Disturbing Emotional Responses in Pandemic Contexts (IREN-35)" in Mexican adult population. This instrument identifies the presence of negative emotions related to direct or indirect exposure to the virus (SARS-CoV-2), including the experience of physical and social isolation that this causes. Method: An exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with quantitative methodology. In order to determine construct validity, an exploratory factor analysis was performed, as well as the identification of the total and factor reliability coefficients. For convergent validation, a Pearson correlation analysis was used between IREN-35 and Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire. The validation process was carried out during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in Mexico, in phase two of the virus's spread. Results: The global results indicate that the IREN-35 is a valid and reliable instrument to identify negative emotions, and presents a good psychometric performance in the adult Mexican population. The instrument consists of four factors with a global Cronbach's alpha of .96: 1) Negative emotions due to "physical" and/or social distancing; 2) Emotions due to "loss" of stability or well-being; 3) Emotions due to perceived "threat"; and 4) Emotions due to perception of intense "danger". Discussion or conclusion: The IREN-35 has a preventive utility in the sense that it can identify the presence of disturbing emotions, likely to contribute -with the passage of time and if their intensity increases-in the formation of some type of emotional distress (factor 1), or depressive disorder (factor 2), anxiety disorder (factor 3), trauma or stress factors (factor 4) in the context of a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify if there were differences in perceived fear in 9 to 12 year old boys and girls that live in Mexico City. Qualitative information was obtained which was used to build a Likert type scale responded by 300 children. A factor analysis determined the existence of four factors: fear of the unknown, fear of animals, fear at school, and fear of danger and death. Statistical differences were found in all factors, girls obtaining higher mean values. The highest mean values were observed in fear of danger and death, both among boys and girls, possibly because of the insecurity situation that surrounds life in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]