Mental Imagery in Children with Specific Phobia: the Role of Types and Vividness of Visual Mental Imagery

Hilverda, Jörn, J.A (2024) Mental Imagery in Children with Specific Phobia: the Role of Types and Vividness of Visual Mental Imagery. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Objective: Specific phobia is a prevalent disorder in children and adolescents, with profound effects on daily life. Mental imagery is known to influence fear levels. This study investigates the association between the temporal focus of the images and the level of fear for the stimulus. Additionally, three types of imagery of imagery were distinguished and examined for their association with the level of fear. Finally, it is investigated whether the vividness of the images serves as a predictor for the level of fear. Methods: The participants, 42 children with a clinically diagnosed specific phobia enrolled in the Kids Beat Anxiety program (mean age 11 (SD = 2.00), 52.4% girls). An imagery interview and an idiosyncratic questionnaire on fear levels (AVAK) were administered, providing information on the presence of mental imagery, type of imagery, vividness and level of fear. Results: Only 47.6% of the participants reported experiencing mental imagery. The level of mental imagery based on flashforwards was significantly associated with lower levels of fear. Mental imagery based on flashbacks, stories told by others and fantasy did not predict the level of fear, nor was the vividness of the images. Conclusion: The negative association between flashforward imagery and fear levels suggests that imagining future scenarios may reduce anxiety by preparing the brain for potential situations, aligning with Rubin's theory of schema-driven construction of future traumatic events and previous research on mental imagery's role in anxiety reduction. Keywords: Anxiety, specific phobia, mental imagery, children, vividness

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Nauta, M.H. and Hout, W.J.P.J. van
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2024 08:43
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2024 08:43
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3237

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