The Structure of Common Fears: Comparing Three Different Models

Abstract

General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. AbstractPrevious studies showed discrepant findings regarding the factor structure of common fears.The purpose of the present study was to expand on these findings and to contribute to the development of a descriptive framework for a fear classification. Using data from the Dutch general population (n=961; 50.9% women), an exploratory factor analysis was performed to delineate the multidimensional structure of 11 common fears previously used in a factoranalytic study by Fredrikson, Annas, Fischer, & Wik (1996). A second, independent sample (n=998; 48.3% women) was used to confirm the newly derived model by means of confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, the model was tested against the DSM-IV-TR model, and a model found earlier by Fredrikson et al. (1996). Although support was found for a 3-factor solution consisting of a blood-injection-injury factor, a situational-animal factor and a heights-related factor, confirmatory factor analysis showed that this 3-factor model and the DSM-IV-TR 4-factor model fitted the data equally well. The findings suggest that the structure of subclinical fears can be inferred from the DSM-classification of phobia subtypes, and that fears and phobias are two observable manifestations of a fear response along a continuum.

A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears

“…In this respect it is important to note that the data on estimated heritability of fears are not to be much different from those on phobias. This is on par with findings of research aimed at delineating the multidimensional structure of fears suggesting that the structure of subclinical fears can be inferred from the DSM classification of phobia subtypes and that fears and phobias are two observable manifestations of a fear response along a single continuum (De Jongh, Oosterink-Wubbe, Hoogstraten, Kieffer, & Aartman, 2011).…”

Inventário de medos III: Avaliação das qualidades psicométricas em uma amostra portuguesa

“…Assim, a utilização em contexto clínico, do escore obtido pelo fator de segunda ordem, daria uma visão geral e rápida dos medos do paciente, sendo o uso dessa informação uma importante ferramenta no delineamento da intervenção a ser realizada (de Jongh et al, 2011).…”

“…O inventário Fear Survey Schedule tem sido amplamente utilizado na análise dos medos e sua intensidade, quer em contextos clínicos como na investigação (de Jongh, Oosterink, Kieffer, Hoogstraten, & Aartman, 2011;Tasto, 1977). O seu desenvolvimento tem-se dado ao longo dos anos.…”

Is Dental Phobia a Blood-Injection-Injury Phobia?

“…Regarding the convergent and discriminant validity of this categorization, there are only two factor analytic studies that specifically attempted to determine whether dental fear corresponds to the cluster of fears within the B‐I‐I subtype of specific phobia. Both studies found support for a classification of fears with a B‐I‐I or “mutilation” factor comprising fears of injections, injuries, and dental treatment . Conversely, a study assessing the relationship between dental anxiety, and either B‐I‐I anxiety or B‐I‐I avoidance among dental patients found only weak nonsignificant correlations between these constructs ( r = 0.16 and –0.02, respectively) .…”

“…Both studies found support for a classification of fears with a B-I-I or "mutilation" factor comprising fears of injections, injuries, and dental treatment. [8,13] Conversely, a study assessing the relationship between dental anxiety, and either B-I-I anxiety or B-I-I avoidance among dental patients found only weak nonsignificant correlations between these constructs (r = 0.16 and -0.02, respectively). [14] Further, a community survey showed that among dentally anxious individuals, only 16% could also be classified as blood-injury fearful.…”