Examining the relationship of age with fears among adolescents and young adults with and without intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine for differences in potentially productive fear versus all other fear scores comparing adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities versus their typically developing peers without intellectual disabilities while statistically controlling for chronological age.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined for differences in potentially productive fear scores versus all fear scores comparing adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities versus their typically developing peers without intellectual disabilities.

Findings

Results of the current study highlight the importance of examining and statistically acknowledging the form of the relationship between age and fear. As previous research has indicated the relationship of age with fear, this form of the relationship should be acknowledged in subsequent analyses. Results also present a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living.

Research limitations/implications

As previous research has indicated the relationship of age with fear, this form of the relationship should be acknowledged in subsequent analyses. Finally, results present a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living as an outcome.

Practical implications

The current study presents a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living as an outcome.

Originality/value

Results support that potentially productive fears can be considered fears that can be used to promote learning that leads to independent living outcomes such as safety and security.

Citation

Barnard-Brak, L., Mutua, K. and Burnham, J. (2023), "Examining the relationship of age with fears among adolescents and young adults with and without intellectual disabilities", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 109-119. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-10-2022-0037