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The (in)stability of adolescent fears
R Poulton1, P Trainor, W Stanton
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Adolescent fears, including social fears, show little change between ages 13 and 15. However, most fears reported at age 13 do not persist two years later in this longitudinal study.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Fear and phobias are common in adolescence.
- Understanding fear development is crucial for mental health.
- Longitudinal data on adolescent fear is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine changes in fear types during adolescence.
- To investigate the persistence of adolescent fears.
- To inform developmental theories of fear and phobia.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of a birth cohort.
- Data collected at ages 13 and 15.
- Analysis of fear frequency and content.
Main Results:
- Cross-sectionally, few fear differences were observed between ages 13 and 15.
- A notable increase in social fears occurred at age 15.
- Longitudinally, most fears reported at age 13 did not persist two years later.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent fear is dynamic, with low persistence.
- Findings challenge some developmental theories of fear.
- Further research into fear development is warranted.