ArticlePloS one2025
Examining associations between medical fear and perceptions of provider trust, provider empathy, and medical mistrust among college-attending young adults.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
objectiveThe current study examined associations between various dimensions of medical fear (e.g., blood, mutilation, sharp objects, injection/blood draws, examinations/symptoms) and perceptions of provider trust, provider empathy, healthcare system mistrust, and attitudes toward medical care-seeking. Additionally, we explored the associations between different dimensions of medical fear and medical care engagement.
methodsA convenience sample of 479 young adults (18-26 years) attending a large, urban Mid-Atlantic university completed a cross-sectional online survey during the fall of 2022 assessing medical fears, provider trust, perceptions of provider empathy, medical care-seeking attitudes, and medical mistrust. Participants with medical fears (n = 211) answered an additional open-ended question regarding medical care engagement. Multiple regression models were used to examine associations between medical fear dimensions and outcome measures. A binary logistic regression was performed to examine the likelihood of health care engagement based on different medical fear dimensions. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.
resultsParticipants identified as 75.8% female (n = 363), 47.0% White (n = 219), and 25.7% (n = 122) reported having a chronic illness. Increasing levels of mutilation fear were significantly associated with lower ratings of provider trust (β = -.286, p < .001) and empathy (β = -.172, p = .010), as well as more medical mistrust (β = .227, p < .001). None of the five medical fear dimensions were significantly associated with medical engagement.
conclusionsFindings highlight the role of mutilation fears in patient-provider relationships and views about the healthcare system in general. While these fears were not associated with medical care avoidance in our study, their association with patient-provider relationships may have implications for adherence to medical recommendations and health outcomes. Patient-centered collaborative care that takes medical fears into consideration may help strengthen patient-provider relationships and mitigate potential negative health outcomes.
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