Psychometric and network analysis of kinesiophobia in Iranian surgical patients

Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, can significantly impede an individual's ability to engage in daily activities. This fear often stems from past traumatic experiences or witnessing others in pain, leading to an increased fear of injury. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia among Iranian post-surgery patients. A methodological study conducted in 2023 involved a sample of 400 post-surgery patients selected through convenience sampling. The translated scale underwent psychometric evaluation, including network analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for construct validity, as well as assessments for convergent and discriminant validity. Internal consistency of the scale was also assessed. The mean age of the participants was 44.38 (SD = 13.49) years and the majority of them (77.8%) were women. Exploratory factor analysis with Promax rotation identified two factors explaining 60.28% of the variance, comprising 17 items. The final model was confirmed after necessary adjustments in confirmatory factor analysis. Both convergent and discriminant validity were established, and alpha and omega coefficients of the subscales were above 0.7. The Persian version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia showed robust psychometric properties among Iranian post-surgery patients, serving as a valuable tool for evaluating and addressing kinesiophobia in this population. These findings enhance the understanding and management of kinesiophobia within the Iranian healthcare context.