Reliability and validity of the Fear of Intimacy Scale in China

J Pers Assess. 2008 May;90(3):270-9. doi: 10.1080/00223890701885019.

Abstract

Participants in China (n = 343) and the United States (n = 283) completed measures to assess the reliability and validity of the Fear of Intimacy Scale (Descutner & Thelen, 1991) with a Chinese population. Internal consistency was strong in both cultures, and the factor structure was also similar between cultures, with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) identifying three-factor models in both samples. As evidence of convergent validity, the scale was positively correlated with depression and negatively correlated with social support and self-esteem. There were gender differences between cultures, but low levels of femininity were predictive of fear of intimacy in both cultures. The influence of individualism and collectivism varied, with high levels of individualism more predictive of a fear of intimacy in China than in the United States.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • China
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Fear*
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Personal Autonomy
  • Personality Inventory*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Concept
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Support
  • Social Values
  • United States