Fear of Flying (Aviophobia): Efficacy and Methodological Lessons Learned from Outcome Trials

Wiederhold, Brenda K.; Bouchard, Stéphane

doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-8023-6_4

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The results suggest that exposure to insect-specific stimuli within the positive, fantasy context of Spider-Man and Ant-Man reduces the level of phobic symptoms, despite being an in vitro exposure for a very short time duration of 7 s. This finding is important as in vitro exposure is usually less potent than in vivo exposure (9), yet since in vivo exposure can be difficult for some clients (10), it is often not applicable. Other less threatening forms of exposure, albeit less accessible, have thus been developed, such as virtual reality, which has been successfully used (11).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Spidey Can”: Preliminary Evidence Showing Arachnophobia Symptom Reduction Due to Superhero Movie Exposure

2019

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Fear of insects, mainly spiders, is considered one of the most common insect phobias. However, to date, no conducted studies have examined the effects of phobic stimulus exposure (spiders/ants) within the positive context of superhero movies, such as Spider-Man or Ant-Man . A convenience sample of 424 participants divided into four groups watched different clips. Two intervention groups ( Spider-Man / Ant-Man ) and two control groups (Marvel opening/natural scene) were measured twice (pre–post intervention). The measures comprised an online survey assessing socio-demographic variables, familiarity with superhero movies and comics, and phobic symptoms. Reduction in phobic symptoms was significant in the Spider-Man and Ant-Man groups in comparison to the control groups. Seven-second exposure to insect-specific stimuli within a positive context reduces the level of phobic symptoms. Incorporating exposure to short scenes from superhero movies within a therapeutic protocol for such phobias may have the potential to be robustly efficacious and enhance cooperation and motivation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Spidey Can”: Preliminary Evidence Showing Arachnophobia Symptom Reduction Due to Superhero Movie Exposure

2019

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“…Through this repeated exposure, during which the dreaded outcome does not occur, clients change their emotional and cognitive associations with the previously feared stimulus. Over time this reduces fear and avoidance of the stimulus (e.g., Gros et al., ; Wiederhold, Bouchard, & Loranger, ). However, because exposure to feared stimuli is not always feasible or ethical, imaginal exposure, in which the feared outcome is imagined, is sometimes used in the place of, or in conjunction with, traditional exposure therapy.…”

Section: Imaginal Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Imagined contact with famous gay men and lesbians reduces heterosexuals’ misidentification concerns and sexual prejudice

LaCosse

Plant

2018

Euro J Social Psych

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Gay men and lesbians experience bigotry at alarmingly high rates. Traditionally, researchers have focused on reducing sexual prejudice; however, research indicates that heterosexuals’ concerns about being misidentified as gay/lesbian also contribute to the derogation of gay/lesbian individuals. Thus, reducing misidentification concerns is a critical part of decreasing negativity toward gay/lesbian individuals. In the current work, we explored a novel addition to the imagined contact paradigm—imagined contact with famous outgroup members—for reducing misidentification concerns. We found that imagined contact with famous gay men/lesbians reduced misidentification concerns within the imagined interaction and engendered an eagerness to befriend the famous gay/lesbian interaction partner. Moreover, we found that the reduction of these misidentification concerns led to fewer general contagion concerns, and increased eagerness to befriend led to decreased sexual prejudice. The current work develops a useful intervention for improving multiple responses toward gay men and lesbians.

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“…5 Alternatively or additionally, the cognitive reaction of these patients towards flight may also include a general fear of death, as well as fears of embarrassment or loss of self-control. 3,4,[6][7][8] Physiological responses conversely may include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, hyperventilation, "gastric distress" and frequent panic attacks. 3,7,8 The disorder represents an additional challenge in the form of diagnostic "trickyness".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear of Flying, Stress and Epileptic-Like Symptoms

Laker,

Bob,

Riethof

et al. 2024

NDT

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Background: Intense fear of flying, called aviophobia, is a highly prevalent psychological phenomenon, afflicting (in some estimates) up to 40% of the population of industrialized countries and although aviophobia is a highly prevalent mental health problem, published studies about its epidemiology and treatment are rare. Methods: In this study, including 61 participants (28 males and 33 females; mean age 26.85) engaged in business related travels in the last two years, we assessed relationships of fear of flying problems with symptoms of stress also reflecting childhood traumatic stress experiences and its influences on brain sensitization and epileptic-like symptoms. In this assessment we also studied fear of flying symptoms and work related psychological problems described as burnout. Results:The results show that the participants who manifest higher levels of stress symptoms have higher levels of aviophobic experiences. Stress symptoms measured by TSC-40 manifested significant correlations with aviophobic experiences measured by Flight Anxiety Modality Questionnaire (FAS) (Spearman R=0.46, p<0.01). Other correlations were found between FAS and Limbic System Checklist (LSCL-33) (Spearman R=0.39, p<0.01) and FAS and Burnout Measure (BM) (Spearman R=0.30, p<0.01). Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that the experience of fear of flying is related to past and recent stressful events and also to levels of work related problems described and experienced as burnout.

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Fear of Flying (Aviophobia): Efficacy and Methodological Lessons Learned from Outcome Trials

Cited by 6 publications

References 44 publications

“Spidey Can”: Preliminary Evidence Showing Arachnophobia Symptom Reduction Due to Superhero Movie Exposure

“Spidey Can”: Preliminary Evidence Showing Arachnophobia Symptom Reduction Due to Superhero Movie Exposure

Imagined contact with famous gay men and lesbians reduces heterosexuals’ misidentification concerns and sexual prejudice

Fear of Flying, Stress and Epileptic-Like Symptoms

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