CHILDHOOD MEDICAL EXPERIENCE AND TEMPERAMENT AS PREDICTORS OF ADULT FUNCTIONING IN MEDICAL SITUATIONS

The effects of childhood medical experiences and temperament on adults ' medical fear, pain, coping effectiveness, and avoidance of medical s ituations were investigated. The Medical Experience Questionnaire, an instrument designed for this study, and the Dimensions of Temperament Scale-Revised (Windle & Lerner, 1986) were utilized. Participants were 147 young adults. Using correlational and hierarchical multiple regre ssion analyses, results indicated that adults' medical fear was signif icantly predicted by children having experienced more medical fear and pain; by being more distractible; and by gender, with females being m ore fearful. Adults' medical pain was significantly predicted by havin g experienced more pain during childhood. Greater coping effectiveness in adulthood was related to having coped better in childhood. Avoidan ce of medical we as an adult was significantly predicted by being more fearful in childhood and by having a higher activity level. Recommend ations for treatment and future research are provided.