Fear as a Factor in the Development of Childhood Psychopathology

The members of the Committee appointed to examine the dissertation of JULIA MARMION find it satisfactory and recommend that it be accepted. ___________________________________ Chair ___________________________________ ___________________________________ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Masha Gartstein for her support in completing this project, as well as her support throughout my graduate training. Furthermore, I would like to thank my committee members Dr. Craig Parks and Dr. Leonard Burns for their support with this project. Chair: Maria Gartstein This study explores the relationship of one specific aspect of infant temperament, namely fear, and its relationship to the development of psychopathology at toddler age. Fear was assessed in the laboratory and via maternal report when infants were 12 months old and related to the development of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems between 18 and 35 months of age. It was found that fear as reported by the mother was significantly correlated with the development of internalizing behavior problems. Furthermore, it was examined whether Effortful Control and Orienting/Regulatory Capacity would mediate the significant relationship between fear and internalizing symptoms. Orienting/Regulatory Capacity was assessed via parental report when the infant was 12 months of age, while Effortful Control was assessed via maternal report at toddler age. Although, it was found that neither variable functioned as a mediator in independent models, results indicated that both variables together partially mediated the relationship between reported fear and internalizing symptoms. Hence, factors related to effortful control explained part of the relationship between fear and the development of later internalizing behavior problems.