title: Predictors of specific phobia in young women: a prospective community study.
abstract: Potential predictors of incidence of specific phobia were investigated within the conceptual framework of the vulnerability-stress model. At two time points separated by approximately 17 months, a community sample of 1261 German women (18-25 years of age) completed a structured interview. A broad range of potential stress- and vulnerability-related predictors was recorded at initial assessment. The strongest predictors of incidence were: high levels of preexisting psychopathology, a lack of coping skills, and a negative cognitive style. Assessing individual differences in stress and vulnerability thus seem to offer additional information about etiology of specific phobia beyond traditional learning theory. Incorporating the role of these risk factors may be useful for identifying individuals who are at increased risk and improving measures of prevention.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Missionsstrasse 60/62, 4055 Basel, Switzerland. julia.trumpf@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trumpf
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Margraf
authors.forename: Noortje
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vriends
authors.forename: Andrea H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Eni S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological