Development and Validation of a Fear-of-Intimacy Scale

Two independent studies showed the Fear-of-Intimacy Scale (FIS) to be a valid and reliable measure of individuals' anxiety about close, dating relationships. Item-total analyses yielded a 35-item scale with high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Construct validity was established by factor analysis and significant correlations. The FIS correlated positively with a loneliness measure; it correlated negatively with self-disclosure, social intimacy, and social desirability measures. These relations were maintained when partial correlations were conducted to control for social desirability. Subjects' FIS scores were significantly related to self-report data (e.g., subjects with higher scores reported briefer relationships) and positively related to therapists ratings about clients' fear of intimacy. It was also found that androgynous subjects had less fear of intimacy than masculine and undifferentiated subjects. The FIS holds promise for use in the assessment of clinical populations and for use as a research instrument.