The stability and prediction of fears in Chinese children and adolescents: a one-year follow-up.

The stability in number, level, content, and pattern of fears over a one-year period was examined in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-17. In addition, perceptions of fear in friends and parents as well as perceptions of the controllability and modifiability of fears were explored as predictors of subsequent fear level. Evidence for moderate stability of fears was obtained. However, stability was qualified by age and sex interaction effects. A developmental-cultural hypothesis was put forth to account for those findings. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that perceptions of fears in friends and parents, along with perceptions of the controllability and modifiability of fears, were predictive of fear level at follow-up. Limitations of the study are noted.