Adolescents’ fear of the dark: associations with fear of death and trait-anxiety

Abstract

Fears related to death and darkness are common during adolescence. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between these two types of fear, considering trait-anxiety and gender differences. A total of 171 16–18 years old adolescents (99 girls and 72 boys) completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires (Intensity of Fear of the Dark Scale, Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale, Spielberger Trait-State Anxiety Inventory–Trait version). According to our results, girls had higher levels of fear and anxiety than boys. Fear for significant others was the most intensively feared aspect of fear of death among both genders. Fear of the dark was associated with fear of death and trait anxiety, and the effect of trait anxiety on fear of the dark was partially mediated by fear of death. These results underline the symbolic association between fear of the dark and fear of death and have possible treatment implications.