title: Children's nighttime fears.
abstract: Some children experience persistent night-time fears that interfere with their daily functioning. Initially, we present developmental considerations necessary to an understanding of severe night-time fears. We postulate that severe night-time fears are probably due to a complex interaction of biological, environmental, and cognitive-mediational processes. Several assessment procedures are outlined: behavioral interviews, diagnostic interviews, fear survey schedules for children, home monitoring on the part of parents, and darkness toleration tests. Traditional behavioral interventions, and more recent cognitive-behavioral interventions, are evaluated in terms of their research foundations. Cognitive-behavioral strategies appear to have the more empirical support, although we draw attention to several methodological limitations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ollendick
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Tonge
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy