Validity, Reliability and Normalization of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (FPQ-SF)

In this research, we intended to normalize and examine the reliability and validity of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (FPQ-SF) among Iranian university students. A random sample of 600 students participated in this study. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a 3-factor model with 30 items and a 4-factor model with 20 items were evaluated. For reliability assessment, we used Chronbach’s alpha and for validity applied, convergent validity. Convergent validity was measured through correlation between pain anxiety symptoms scale (PASS-20) and anxiety sensitivity index (ASI). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) reassessment of McNeil and Rainwater's 3-factor 30-item model and Asmundson et al proposed 4-factor 20-item model indicated a poor fit to the data. As such, exploratory factor analysis using 4-factor model (severe pain, minor pain, medical and dental pain, and injection pain) with 24 items was developed. The results of Chronbach's Alpha for fear of pain and each of subscales of severe pain, minor pain, medical and dental pain, and injection pain were 0.83, 0.83, 0.80, 0.76 and 0.89, respectively for total sample. Based on the results of this study, it was found that fear of pain questionnaire with four factors and 24 items shows acceptable psychometric properties in psychological research and clinical assessment of fear of pain in Iranian population.