Phobic dimensions—II. Cross-national confirmation of the multidimensional structure underlying the Mobility Inventory (MI)

In a previous study (Cox, Swinson, Kuch & Reichman, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 427-431, 1993), factor analyses of the responses of 177 Canadian panic disorder with agoraphobia patients to the 'When Accompanied' and 'When Alone' scales of the Mobility Inventory (Chambless, Caputo, Jasin, Gracely & Williams, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 23, 35-44, 1985) revealed three factors in each case: Fears of (1) Public places; (2) Enclosed spaces; and (3) Open spaces. Using two distinct methods of factorial analysis, evidence was found for the cross-national generalizability of the factor model when the responses of Dutch members of a society for individuals suffering from an anxiety disorder (N = 213) were contrasted with the original Canadian findings. Inventory items were distributed in a non-overlapping fashion across the corresponding three subscales. Psychometric properties of the subscales were encouraging, although some difficulties emerged when attempts were made at distinguishing Fears of Enclosed spaces from Fears of Open spaces. This was because of their correlational configurations with other measures. Scores on all scales varied with socioeconomic status (SES); Ss in lower SES groups had significantly higher agoraphobic avoidance scores than their equivalents in higher SES groups. Results of higher-order analysis, which included several state and trait measures of psychological functioning in addition to the Mobility Inventory, revealed two orthogonal, second-order factors which were interpreted as Agoraphobia and Neuroticism/Negative Affect vs Positive Affect. Implications for further studies are briefly outlined

Masculine Gender Role Stress:A potential predictor of phobic and obsessive-compulsive behaviour

Eisler and Blalock (Clin. Psychol. Rev. 11 (1991) 45) developed a cognitively mediated notion of Masculine Gender Role Stress (MGRS) which assumes that rigid commitment to masculine schemata for appraisal and coping with life's problems may both produce stress and result in dysfunctional coping patterns in men. Previous findings obtained in a non-clinical sample pointed to the ability of the MGRS General scale to predict different forms of irrational fears. Using a predominantly psychologically distressed sample, the present study replicated this finding. In addition, different subordinate concepts of MGRS (Physical inadequacy, Emotional inexpressiveness, Subordination to women, Intellectual inferiority, and Performance failure) predicted Agoraphobic fears, Blood-Injury fears, Social fears, and Obsessional checking and washing compulsions distinctively. Intellectual inferiority was the strongest predictor of Social fears. Most MGRS measures emerged as better predictors of Checking than of Washing rituals. There were no sex differences in the predictive capabilities of any of the MGRS measures on any of the criterion measures. A hypothetical explanation is given for the observation of MGRS being more strongly predictive of Checking than of Washing rituals using the concept of "inflated responsibility". Implications for assessment, treatment and further studies are briefly pinpointed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p