How long does this quiz take?

This quiz takes about 5-8 minutes to complete.

Are my responses private?

Yes, all answers are anonymized and confidential.

Can I take this test more than once?

Yes, you can retake the test any time to see how your results may have changed.

Will this quiz diagnose a fear of intimacy?

No. This quiz is a self-reflection tool and not a clinical diagnosis, but it can highlight patterns worth exploring further.

Can my results help improve my relationships?

Yes. Understanding your comfort with emotional closeness can help you communicate needs and boundaries more clearly.

Discover how comfortable you truly feel with emotional closeness and vulnerability in romantic relationships.

Fear Of Intimacy Scale

A self-reflection tool for understanding discomfort with emotional intimacy.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Reviewed by Jourdan Travers, LCSW

Emotional closeness is a cornerstone of healthy romantic relationships, yet for many people it can feel unsettling or even threatening. If opening up, sharing personal struggles, or relying on a partner feels difficult, you may be experiencing avoidance around intimacy. This assessment explores how safe and comfortable emotional vulnerability feels for you in close relationships.

This test is designed to help you reflect on common thoughts and feelings that arise when emotional closeness deepens.

If this topic resonates, you may also find it helpful to explore our Authenticity in Relationships Scale and the Loneliness in Intimate Relationships Scale, which examine related aspects of emotional connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this quiz take?: This quiz takes about 5-8 minutes to complete.
Are my responses private?: Yes, all Fear Of Intimacy Scale answers are anonymized and confidential.
Can I take this test more than once?: Yes, you can retake the test any time to see how your Fear Of Intimacy Scale results may have changed.
Will this quiz diagnose a fear of intimacy?: No. This quiz is a self-reflection tool and not a clinical diagnosis, but it can highlight patterns worth exploring further.
Can my results help improve my relationships?: Yes. Understanding your comfort with emotional closeness can help you communicate needs and boundaries more clearly.

Emotional Closeness Avoidance Scale: Take The Test

Step 1: Rate Your Emotional Closeness Comfort

For each statement, indicate how much you agree on a scale of 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). For best results, answer honestly and trust your first instinct.

1. I feel anxious about emotional closeness changing or fading.

2. I struggle to clearly express my emotional needs to a partner.

3. Open and honest emotional communication feels challenging for me.

4. I don’t always feel free to be my full self in close relationships.

5. Talking about my personal goals with a partner makes me uncomfortable.

6. I feel uneasy revealing past experiences that still make me feel embarrassed or ashamed.

7. Talking about emotionally painful events with a partner makes me uncomfortable.

8. I tend to hold back my true emotions in close romantic relationships.

9. Sharing my deepest feelings with a partner feels risky to me.

10. I avoid discussing major personal problems with someone I’m dating.

11. I struggle to talk openly about sad or vulnerable experiences from my life.

12. It is difficult for me to fully open up about my personal thoughts.

13. I hesitate to tell a partner what I dislike about myself.

14. I prefer keeping very personal details to myself, even in close relationships.

15. I avoid sharing things with a partner that I wouldn’t tell most people.

16. Trusting someone with my deepest emotions feels uncomfortable.

17. I feel uneasy revealing my perceived flaws or weaknesses.

18. I worry about sharing private thoughts, even with someone close to me.

19. I become emotionally distant when a relationship starts to feel too intense or dependent.

Step 2: Enter Your Demographics

Provide your age, gender, region, and first name for a detailed report comparing your results to others.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Submit Your Fear Of Intimacy Scale Answers

After completing all questions, click below to send your responses to Mark Travers, Ph.D. All answers are anonymized and confidential.

References

Ingersoll, T. S., Poulin, J., Deng, R., Shan, X., Witt, H., & Swain, M. (2012). Fear of intimacy with helping professionals scale. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 9(4), 317–332.

Disclaimer

This scale is designed for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.