Attachment and Personality Traits as Predictors of Fears in Student Age

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the predictors of students’ fears. The sample consisted of university students (N = 94,82% - women) aged 18–22. The measure of intensity of fears by Yu.V. Shcherbatykh and E.I. Ivleva, the questionnaire “Experience of close relationships” (ECR) by N.V. Sabelnikova and D.V. Kashirsky, Attachment Style Questionnaire by J. Finey et al. (ASQ) adapted by N.V. Sabelnikova, D.V. Kashirsky, the “Big Five” (5PFQ) technique by P. Costa and R. McCrae adapted by S.A. Shchebetenko were used in the study. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA), the structure of fears experienced by students was revealed. It included “fears of uncontrollable events” (changes in personal life, death, illness, etc.), “natural fears” (darkness, enclosed space, snakes, spiders, etc.), “social fears” (exams, public speaking) fears and “fear of losing self-control” (aggression towards loved ones, auto-aggression, etc.). The quality of the structural model has been verified by confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis of regression equations (MRA) revealed the dependence of individual groups of fears on avoidance of attachment relationships, neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness.