6-MONTH PREVALENCE OF PHOBIC SYMPTOMS IN ICELAND - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC POSTAL SURVEY

An epidemiological questionnaire survey of the prevalence of Various t ypes of phobias was undertaken among the Icelandic population. Out of 1,000 individuals surveyed. in accord with national census data held i n Reykjavik. 775 questionnaires were returned. Results confirmed that among Icelanders. phobic symptoms overall are more prevalent among wom en than men. Prevalence rates were lower for individuals 45 years or o lder. suggesting that extinction may occur with ageing. Divorced or se parated individuals were most at risk. as were women homemakers. disab led, or unemployed persons. Education was inversely related to the inc idence of all types of phobias. with individuals with less than 10 yea rs of education reporting the highest rates of phobia. Most respondent s attributed the onset of their phobias to a specific terrifying exper ience, and in many cases. to observing another person displaying an in tense fear reaction in a given situation. Factor analysis of the data indicated that social anxiety phobias accounted for the greatest propo rtion of variance. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.