Accuracy of predicting a child's response to potential threat: A comparison of children and their mothers

Cobham, VE and Rapee, RM (1999) Accuracy of predicting a child's response to potential threat: A comparison of children and their mothers. Australian Journal of Psychology, 51 : 25-28.

Document type: Journal Article
Collection: School of Psychology Publications

Author(s) Cobham, VE
Rapee, RM
Title Accuracy of predicting a child's response to potential threat: A comparison of children and their mothers
Journal name Australian Journal of Psychology
Publication date 1999
Sub-type Article
Volume number 51
Start page 25
End page 28
Abstract Considerable research has indicated that children and their parents often demonstrate marked discrepancies in their reporting of anxiety-related phenomena. In such cases, the question arises as to whether children are capable of accurately reporting on their anxiety. In the present study, 50 children (aged 5 to 14 years) were asked to approach a large, German Shepherd dog. Prior to the task, both the mother and child independently predicted the closest point likely to be reached by the child and the degree of anxiety likely to be experienced. These predictions were then compared with the actual phenomena displayed by the child during the task. On the behavioural measure (closest step reached), both the child and mother demonstrated equivalent predictive accuracy. On the subjective measure (fear ratings) children were considerably more accurate than their mothers. The data were not influenced by gender, age, or clinical status. The results indicate the ability of children to accurately predict their anxious responses, and support the value of incorporating children's self-reports in the assessment of emotional disorders.
Keyword(s) Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Structured Psychiatric Interview
Anxiety Disorders
Diagnostic-interview
Age-differences
Test-retest
Reliability
Parent
Agreement
Schedule
Depression
 
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