SELF-REPORTED FEARS IN HISPANIC YOUTH WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

There is a paucity of research on the frequency, intensity, and con te nt of fears experienced by Hispanic (or Latino) American youth with me ntal retardation. We assessed fears experienced by 48 Hispanic youth w ith mental retardation (ages 10 to 21 years) using the Fear Survey for Children With and Without Mental Retardation, Although differences we re found in the content of fears across age and gender groups, the num ber and intensity of fears did not differ. Promising evidence of the v alidity of this survey instrument was attained by its significant corr elations with the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Implicati ons for future research were discussed.