Agoraphobia in women and environmental meaning.
Item
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Title
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Agoraphobia in women and environmental meaning.
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Identifier
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AAI8820866
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identifier
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8820866
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Creator
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Gelfond, Marjorie Pam.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Susan Saegert
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Date
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1988
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, General
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Abstract
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This study represented an examination of women's fears and inhibitions regarding public, and outdoor environments in order to provide a basis for understanding the greater susceptibility of women to agoraphobia. It further examined women's relationship with home as a means of understanding the primary symptom of agoraphobia, which is the reluctance to leave the home.;The study utilized two comparison groups: Average women and highly independent women. Challenging the reports of earlier studies, results confirmed that there is substantial overlap between the agoraphobic and average women in terms of levels of environmental constriction, suggesting that the majority of women experience significant inhibitions about going places alone. The two groups were also similar in their sex role identity, early experiences, and travel-related attitudes and skills. The independent women differed significantly from the others on all of these dimensions.;In looking at early childhood experiences common to girls, on the assumption that ordinary childrearing practices rather than trauma might account for the symptoms, the study builds upon prior research that has examined the cognitive and affective consequences of early protectiveness and sex role socialization. It was found that limited opportunity to be alone outside the home during the early years, together with a high level of parental apprehensiveness were also significant etiological factors.;The strongest predictor of phobic tendencies was found to be self-perceived lack of orientation, wayfinding, and social skills that would facilitate autonomous functioning outside the home, and negative attitudes about going places unescorted. Associated with this was identification with the stereotypical feminine role.;The findings raised the question of the degree to which social definitions of marriage, prohibitions about women traveling alone, and the practical limitations that confront women, particularly those with young children, encourage the development of agoraphobic constriction, and may serve to explain why the symptoms are most likely to appear during the childbearing years.;Future directions for research considered include an examination of the relationship of alcohol and drug dependence and of eating disorders to agoraphobia; closer examination of the phobic family unit as an etiological factor, and early environmental education as an important element in prevention.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
