The fears during pre-adolescence and adolescence and their relationship with self-esteem: an analysis by age and sex

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between fears and self-esteem during pre- adolescence and adolescence, while studying the differences according to age and sex on the prevalence, intensity and types of fear in a school sample. The Spanish version of the Fear Schedule for Children Revised (FSSC-R) and the Self-Esteem Rosenberg Scale were used. The results indicated the existence of higher scores on the fears in women, being significant these differences in prevalence of fear and intensity of fear in most items, but not in the total intensity. There were a higher prevalence of fears in the pre- adolescents respect to the adolescents, with differences in the prevalence of "fears of danger and death"; but there were not in the total scores. It was found a greater presence of feared situations, in both sexes and in all groups of age, belonging to the dimension " fears of danger and death"; and a negative correlation between the fears and self-esteem, being significant for the intensity of fears, prevalence, and for most of the dimensions of the FSSC-R. These results are consistent with previous studies about fears at these ages. The implications of the relationship between fears and self-esteem in children are discussed.