Vulnerability to Allergic Disorder in Families of Children of Behavioral Inhibition.

摘要

This project examined the differential prevalence of a select set of illnesses, including atopic allergies, among first and second degree relatives of children in two cohorts who are high or low in the display of timidity and fear. The rationale for the project was based on the prior finding of a significant difference in atopic allergy between inhibited and uninhibited children, with the former reporting a greater incidence than the latter. A total of 528 relatives in Study 1 and 480 relatives in Study 2 were administered a health interview by telephone. The relatives of the fearful children reported a higher prevalence of hayfever, but not asthma, and the relatives of inhibited children in both samples reported higher levels of social anxiety. Keywords: Allergy, Anxiety, Temperament, Health. (JS)