Specific Phobia in Young Children: Associations between the Origins of Fear and Clinical Expression of Phobia Symptoms.
Specific phobias set early in life, have a chronic course, and predict development of additional mental health concerns later in life; however, little is currently known about the origins of specific phobias in young children aged 3–6 years. The current study explores the origins of phobic fear amon...
| Published in: | Journal of Child & Family Studies Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 1018 - 1031 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article |
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Springer Nature
Apr2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=184870737&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 184870737 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 10621024 JFM jtl: Journal of Child & Family Studies issn: 10621024 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Apr2025 vid: 34 iid: 4 pid: 237 pub: Springer Nature artinfo: ui: 184870737 10.1007/s10826-025-03040-z ppf: 1018 ppct: 13 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P size: 808KB tig: atl: Specific Phobia in Young Children: Associations between the Origins of Fear and Clinical Expression of Phobia Symptoms. aug: au: Trimarchi, Lisa Waters, Allison M. Simcock, Gabrielle Farrell, Lara J. affil: https://ror.org/02sc3r913 Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia https://ror.org/02sc3r913 Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD, Australia School of Applied Psychology, Parklands Drive, 4222, Southport, QLD, Australia su: Phobias Fear Mental health Parent-child relationships Interviewing Anxiety Cognitive therapy Psychology of parents Avoidance (Psychology) Child behavior Pathological psychology Children Risk assessment Research funding Questionnaires Neural development sug: subj: Phobias Fear Mental health Parent-child relationships Interviewing Anxiety Cognitive therapy Psychology of parents Avoidance (Psychology) Child behavior Pathological psychology Children Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) Risk assessment Research funding Questionnaires Neural development keyword: Anxiety disorders Parenting Pathways to fear Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychology Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services Specific phobia Anxiety disorders Parenting Pathways to fear Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychology Medical and Health Sciences Public Health and Health Services Specific phobia ab: Specific phobias set early in life, have a chronic course, and predict development of additional mental health concerns later in life; however, little is currently known about the origins of specific phobias in young children aged 3–6 years. The current study explores the origins of phobic fear among treatment seeking pre-school aged children diagnosed with a Specific Phobia. Specifically, Rachman's (1977) theory of fear acquisition and differences in children's specific phobia presentation and parental characteristics across direct and indirect (information and modelling) pathways. Seventy-four children aged 3–6 years with a specific phobia, and their parents completed an assessment battery of child phobic symptoms and related child and parent factors. Parents completed a child diagnostic telephone interview and online questionnaires assessing child factors (phobia type, phobia severity, child anxiety) and parent factors (fears, anxiety symptoms, psychopathology, parental rearing). Children participated in a standardised behavioural approach task (BAT) within the clinic and rated subjective units of distress for their phobic stimuli. All children who experienced a direct aversive event, regardless of other pathways endorsed, demonstrated more behavioural avoidance and subjective distress relative to those who did not. Animal phobias were associated with greater frequency of direct aversive events. Children experiencing the indirect pathways experienced greater generalised anxiety symptoms than all other pathways. The findings of this study suggest unique clusters of clinical presentations across the different pathways to fear among young children with SP. Future research examining whether treatment outcomes differ based on pathways to fear would enhance treatment planning. Highlights: Little is known about the origins of specific phobias around the time of onset, during the preschool years (ages 3–6). This study examines child clinical presentations associated with of Rachman's (1977) pathways to fear at the time of onset. Children who experienced a direct aversive event displayed greater behavioural avoidance and subjective distress. Children who experienced indirect (information and modelling) pathways to fear displayed more generalised anxiety symptoms. Parental factors, including psychopathology and parenting styles did not differ across the different pathways to fear. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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