Sultan Esra SAYAR, Zülbiye DEMİR BARBAK, Orhan DELİCE
Ebelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi - 2026;9(3):225-233
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between temperament traits and fear of injection among men and to determine the predictive role of temperament traits in fear of injection. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 218 men who presented to the intramuscular injection unit of a tertiary hospital in Türkiye between July and August 2025. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the TEMPS-A Temperament Scale, and the Multidimensional Fear of Injection Scale. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were used to examine participant characteristics and relationships between temperament traits and injection fear. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictive role of temperament traits after controlling for age, educational status, and employment status. Statistical significance was set at p <.05. Results: The participants had a mean age of 30.61 +/- 11.14 years, and 34.4% reported fear of injections. The mean Multidimensional Fear of Injection Scale score was 21.67 +/- 5.52. Fear of injection was positively correlated with depressive (r=.337), cyclothymic (r=.405), irritable (r=.264), and anxious (r=.319) temperament traits (all p <.001), whereas hyperthymic temperament was not significantly correlated with injection fear. In the hierarchical regression analysis, the final model explained 21.0% of the variance in injection fear (R²=.210, adjusted R²=.176, p <.001), with temperament traits accounting for an additional 13.8% of the variance beyond sociodemographic characteristics (DeltaR²=.138, p<.001). After controlling for the other variables, cyclothymic temperament was the only significant independent predictor of injection fear (B=.403, beta=.229, 95% CI [.080, .726], p=.015). Conclusion: Several affective temperament traits were associated with fear of injection among men; however, cyclothymic temperament was the only significant independent predictor after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and other temperament dimensions. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual differences in emotional reactivity when assessing injection-related fear. Individualized and gender-responsive nursing approaches may facilitate the identification and support of men who are particularly vulnerable to injection fear.
