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Danger Expectancies, Self-efficacy and Subjective Anxiety as Mediators of Avoidance Behaviour in Spider Phobia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2012

Lisa J. Gilroy ,
Kenneth C. Kirkby ,
Brett A. Daniels ,
Ross G. Menzies  and
Iain M. Montgomery
Lisa J. Gilroy*
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Australia. ljgilroy@utas.edu.au
Kenneth C. Kirkby
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Australia.
Brett A. Daniels
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Australia.
Ross G. Menzies
Affiliation:
University of Sydney, Australia.
Iain M. Montgomery
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Australia.
*
*Address for correspondence: Lisa Gilroy, Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252–27, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.
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Abstract

Forty-five participants diagnosed with specific phobia (spiders) gave ratings of subjective anxiety, self-efficacy and the probability of being bitten or injured by a spider while completing a behavioural avoidance test involving exposure to a live spider. Testing was performed before and after treatment and at a 3-month follow-up. Results indicated that subjective anxiety was a more useful predictor of avoidance behaviour than self-efficacy. Danger expectancies in relation to being bitten and/or injured by a spider were not found to be a significant cognitive symptom in the majority of spider phobia sufferers during the behavioural avoidance test with a live spider. Methodological factors that may account for the low reporting of danger-related cognitions in the present study are discussed.

Type
Articles
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , 01 September 2002 , pp. 129 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

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