Factorial dimensions and correlates of blood, injury, injection and related medical fears: Cross validation of the Medical Fear Survey

The Medical Fear Survey (MFS) and its companion scale, the Medical Avoidance Survey (MAS) were factor analyzed and the factor analysis was cross validated in sample of 934 participants. Seven reliable factors were derived from the MFS which cover the domain of blood, injury, and injection fears and phobias. These factors were entered into a discriminate analysis to predict blood injury-related fainting. The single factor, “fear of injections and blood draws” accounted for the majority of the MFS prediction of fainting, correctly classifying 72% of the fainters and 47% of non-fainters. The factors were examined in composite and individually in relation to gender and fainting. Overall, females and fainters scored significantly higher on the MFS although there was some variability. Implications for assessment and conceptualization of blood, injury, injection fears and phobias are discussed.