A fear of scary movies and thrilling rollercoaster rides may be a secret signal that a child is suffering excessive anxiety, Australian research suggests.
Queensland psychologists have found a link between excessive anxiety and lack of enjoyment of fear.
They surveyed 220 children aged six to 12 to measure their excitement for spooky films, books and thrillseeking theme park rides.
Just under 20 per cent said they did not like these scary activities, and interviews with all the parents found these same children were more likely to display symptoms of anxiety.
"There was a definite correlation with anxiety and not enjoying these scary sorts of activities which are considered fun by most children," said Dr Marilyn Campbell, a psychologist and education lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology.
"It might seem like only a small thing but it may signify that they have problems with anxiety."
Dr Campbell said anxious children often feel unsafe so may avoid scary experiences so they don't heighten their fear levels.
The findings, published in the journal Australian Educational and Development Psychologist, could be used by parents as a clue to their child's anxiety levels, she said.
"While it is by no means a diagnosis, it is something which may indicate that parents need to keep an eye on their children to make sure they are not dealing with anxiety issues," Dr Campbell said.
"Anxiety is a terrible thing to suffer through life, and impedes what a person can do, so the earlier we can identify anxiety in kids and teach them to cope, the better."
The researchers said parents who think their children might have a problem with excessive anxiety should try to gradually "desensitise" them.
"Giving children coping strategies to deal with their fear of things like ghost trains and scary rides, and helping them overcome that is important," they wrote in the journal.
"For example, parents could sit with their child on an ordinary train first, then sit with them somewhere dark, then perhaps have games where people jump out and say boo - gradual ways to decrease fear."
Dr Campbell said parents who are anxious themselves, or who are over-protective of their children, may also heighten their child's anxiety issues.
http://news.theage.com.au/national/fear ... -3o5z.html
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