Latent profile analysis for kinesiophobia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Background Kinesiophobia is a common psychological barrier among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), yet its heterogeneity remains unclear. Identifying distinct fear-of-movement patterns may support targeted rehabilitation. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients scheduled for CABG ( N = 296; 78.7% male; mean age=59.97 years, SD = 10.0). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed using the four domains of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart to identify subgroups. Model fit indices, entropy, and class interpretability guided the selection of the optimal model. Results Three distinct latent profiles emerged, representing the best statistical fit and interpretability. The majority of participants exhibited moderate kinesiophobia (75.3%), followed by a low kinesiophobia group (22.3%). A small high kinesiophobia group (2.4%) demonstrated substantially elevated scores across all domains, especially in perceived danger and exercise avoidance. Conclusion Three distinct latent profiles of kinesiophobia were identified among patients undergoing CABG, highlighting notable heterogeneity in fear-of-movement responses. These findings provide a basis for developing personalized rehabilitation strategies, and future studies should investigate the psychological and clinical factors underlying this heterogeneity and its implications for postoperative outcomes.