Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

A comparison of parent-reported fear for autistic and nonhandicapped age-matched children and youth

1990; Informa; Volume: 16; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/07263869000034161

0726-3864

Johnny L. Matson, Steven Love,

Behavioral and Psychological Studies

AbstractFourteen autistic children and youth matched with nonhandicapped same age, same sex peers ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 17 years of age were rated by their parents on the Revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children. Percent of autistic children rated as having specific common fears (i.e., "fears of the unknown") was higher for autistic than the non-handicapped children. Further, some fears were quite different. Thunderstorms, getting punished by father, dark places, being in a big crowd, going to bed in the dark, closed places, and going to the dentist were in the top 10 fears for autistic children but not for the non-handicapped persons. Such differences suggest either qualitative variations or developmental differences between these groups. Similar in scope to the fears of younger normal children, loud sounds, dark places and strangers were rated as producing more fear in autistic persons. The implications of these data are discussed.