Examining the relationship of age with fears among adolescents and young adults with and without intellectual disabilities

Purpose This paper aims to examine for differences in potentially productive fear versus all other fear scores comparing adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities versus their typically developing peers without intellectual disabilities while statistically controlling for chronological age. Design/methodology/approach The authors examined for differences in potentially productive fear scores versus all fear scores comparing adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities versus their typically developing peers without intellectual disabilities. Findings Results of the current study highlight the importance of examining and statistically acknowledging the form of the relationship between age and fear. As previous research has indicated the relationship of age with fear, this form of the relationship should be acknowledged in subsequent analyses. Results also present a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living. Research limitations/implications As previous research has indicated the relationship of age with fear, this form of the relationship should be acknowledged in subsequent analyses. Finally, results present a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living as an outcome. Practical implications The current study presents a conceptualization of fear with some fears being considered as potentially productive fears as it relates to independent living as an outcome. Originality/value Results support that potentially productive fears can be considered fears that can be used to promote learning that leads to independent living outcomes such as safety and security.