A developmental analysis of mothers' reports of normal children's fears

Factor analyses of mothers' ratings of children's fears yielded five oblique primary factors and a higher-order general fearfulness factor at each of three age levels between 6 and 16 years. The primary factors were labeled Physical Injury, Animals, School-Related, Night Fears, and Fear of Public Places. Congruence Coefficients, computed between similarly-named factors, ranged from .77 to .95, thus suggesting stability in the content of children's fears across this age range. Regression analyses indicated age-related decreases in the frequency of fears of Animals, Night, and Public Places, as well as an increase in School-Related fears. Low social class children had more Physical Injury but fewer School-Related fears than high social class children. Girls were reported to have more fears of Physical Injury, Animals, Night Fears, and Public Places.