Fear In Adolescents Research Articles

Characteristics of Disclosure of Suicidal and Nonsuicidal Behaviors in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents.

Many adolescents fear disclosing self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) due to stigma or concern about responses from others. The current study examined rates of disclosure for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide ideation, and suicide attempts in a clinical sample of adolescents, and identified the individuals to whom they disclosed their SITBs. Differences in reasons for living (parent and peer support, future optimism, self-acceptance, and fear of suicide) were examined across disclosure groups. The sample included 100 adolescent inpatients (mean age = 14.61). Rates of disclosure were relatively high: 77% for NSSI, 75% for suicide ideation, and 83.7% for suicide attempts. Adolescents who disclosed NSSI reported higher scores on subscales of self-esteem and future optimism compared to those who did not disclose. No differences were found for adolescents disclosing to parents vs. others; only the fear of suicide subscale was significantly different, and was lower for adolescents who disclosed NSSI to peers vs. others. Adolescents with suicide ideation disclosure reported more parent support compared to those who had not disclosed, those with peer disclosure reported lower fear of suicide than those disclosing to others, and there were no differences for disclosing to parents vs. others. For suicide attempts, only self-acceptance subscale scores were significantly different, and lower for adolescents who disclosed to peers vs. others. There were no differences for disclosing suicide attempts to parents versus other people. The willingness to disclose self-harm behaviors seems influenced by the perception of safety and anticipated support from parents or others to whom adolescents disclose.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality for Managing Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Needle-Related Procedures: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The most frequently performed invasive procedures in hospitals and healthcare centers are needle-related procedures, such as intravenous cannulation and phlebotomy, and they are identified as the major sources of pain, fear, and anxiety in children and adolescents. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR as a distraction measure to reduce pain, fear, and anxiety in children and adolescents undergoing needle-related invasive procedures. For this purpose, the CINAHL, Scopus, WOS, and Cochrane Library scientific databases were used. The protocol review was registered in PROSPERO (ID:42024563245), and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Twenty-one studies were included in the systematic review, involving a total of 2663 participants. Significant differences favored the use of virtual reality for the control of pain intensity (WBFSpatients p = 0.001; MD = -1.83; 95% CI -2.93 to -0.72; WBFSparents p = 0.0002; MD = -2.61; 95% CI -4.00 to -1.23; WBFSnurses p = 0.0001; MD = -2.71; 95% CI -2.82 to -2.60; VAS/NRS p = 0.001, MD = -0.71; 95% CI -1.13 to -0.28), anxiety (CAMpatient p = 0.02, MD = -2.92; 95% CI -5.45 to -0.38; CAMparents p = 0.01, MD = -3.87; 95% CI -6.99 to -0.75) and fear (CFSpatients p = 0.0005, MD = -1.27; 95% CI -1.99 to -0.56; CFSparents p = 0.0005, MD = -1.33; 95% CI -2.08 to -0.58; and CFSnurses p = 0.04, MD = -1.13; 95% CI -2.24 to -0.03). However, high heterogeneity was noted. The use of virtual reality as a distraction appears to be a valuable strategy for reducing pain, fear, and anxiety during needle-related procedures, although further studies with higher methodological rigor, based on a standardized protocol, are needed.

Adults’ recollections of anger and fear during adolescence amidst interparental conflicts

This study aimed to examine adults’ recollections of emotions experienced during adolescence exposure to interparental conflicts. It focuses on recalled emotions of anger against violent parents and fears for nonviolent parents. Anger and fear were evaluated across three factors: Dyadic Concordance Types (DCTs; Straus, 2015), sex, and form of violence. Israeli adults (N = 548) completed a retrospective questionnaire on interparental conflict tactics used by their parents and their emotional experiences toward each parent during these conflicts. Repeated measurement analyses examined the effects of various factors on the frequency of experiencing anger and fear. The findings indicate that physical interparental violence was associated with a higher frequency of anger and fear in adolescents than verbal violence. While the violent parent evokes a higher frequency of anger, the nonviolent parent evokes a higher frequency of fear. In retrospect, anger was a more dominant experience than fear. Regarding the DCTs, when only the mother was physically violent, adolescents experienced a higher frequency of anger and fear than when only the father was physically violent. No differences were found between boys and girls. The current study indicates that adolescents are emotionally involved in and affected by interparental violence (IPV). The findings underscore the importance of understanding IPV’s effects at varying forms and types.

Perceptions Related to Death in Adolescents and Their Parents During the Management of Type 1 Diabetes: A Thematic Analysis

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increased risk of premature death compared to those without T1D, yet perceptions of dying have not been well studied. The purpose of this secondary analysis of existing data was to explore the fears of adolescents with T1D and their parents related to the possibility of death due to T1D. A reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine data from interviews conducted with adolescents with T1D and their parents who participated in a primary grounded theory study of interdependence in T1D management. Three themes were generated from the data including: (1) Facing the Reality of Death, (2) Fearing Highs and Lows, and (3) Finding a Way through Fears. Participants indicated they see death as a consequence of failing to optimally manage T1D. Additional investigation is needed to explore the fear of death in adolescents with T1D and any fear their parents may have of their adolescents' mortality.

Have the effects of Covid-19 been overcome? Levels of Covid-19 fear, Covid-19 anxiety and hopelessness in young adolescents: A structural equation modeling.

This research aimed to determine the level of fear, anxiety, and hopelessness of Covid-19 in young adolescents' post Covid-19 period. Young adolescents in the 17-24 age group were included in this study, which was conducted in a descriptive-cross-sectional design. Sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire form and Coronavirus (Covid-19) Fear Scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and Beck Hopelessness Scale were used to collect data. 90.8% of the participants had been vaccinated, 26.9% had previously caught in Covid-19, and 10.3% of those who had been caught in the disease had a severe course. 10.7% of young adolescents had to take medicines, 56.4% had a family history of Covid-19, and 18.7% had lost a relative as a result of Covid-19, was found. The level of fear, anxiety and hopelessness was higher among women, first-grade students, those who did not receive the Covid-19 vaccine, those who have caught in Covid-19 before, and those who have lost a family due to Covid-19. It is thought that the increase in the awareness level of young adolescents about Covid-19 improves preventive health behaviors and enables the development of positive behaviors related to the disease.

Why So Lonely? The Direct and Indirect Associations between Developmental Trajectories of Fear of Negative Evaluation, Prosocial Behavior and Loneliness in Adolescence.

Fear of negative evaluation and prosocial behavior have been identified as predictive factors influencing the development of loneliness in adolescence, representing typical factors in the cognitive and behavioral processes of re-affiliation. The elucidation of plausible direct and indirect pathways linking these pivotal factors to adolescents' loneliness need further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between the fear of negative evaluation, prosocial behavior, and adolescents' loneliness through the lens of developmental changes. A total of 533 adolescents (49.0% girls, Mage = 15.18 years, SD = 0.71) participated in this longitudinal study, assessed at three timepoints over a span of two years with 12-month intervals. Latent growth modeling uncovered direct associations between the developmental trajectories of both fear of negative evaluation and prosocial behavior with the developmental trajectory of adolescents' loneliness. The developmental trajectory of fear of negative evaluation exhibited an indirect association with the developmental trajectory of loneliness through the mediating role of prosocial behavior. These findings highlighted the roles of cognitive and behavioral re-affiliation processes, both independently and as mediators, in influencing adolescent loneliness, suggesting that interventions aimed at reducing fear of negative evaluation and promoting prosocial behavior could effectively mitigate adolescents' loneliness.

The Future Orientation of Italian Adolescents in Post-Pandemic Times: Associations with Self-Efficacy and Perceived Academic Achievement

Future orientation refers to an individual’s conscious portrayal of upcoming events, encompassing thoughts, motivations, and emotions. Research on future orientation has primarily focused on adolescents due to their perceived necessity to prepare for adulthood. To investigate the hopes and fears of Italian adolescents in post-pandemic times, as well as age and gender differences and the associations between future orientation, self-efficacy, and perceived academic achievement, a survey was conducted with 388 Italian high school students. The Future Orientation and Life Course Prospective Questionnaires, along with the Problem-Solving Self-Efficacy Scale, were administered. Data analysis involved content analysis of hopes and fears, as well as statistical methods (t-tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis) were employed. A greater number of fears than hopes were mentioned. Age differences were marginal. Compared with males, females expressed a greater number of hopes and fears and provided more detailed insights into their fears within the domains of higher education, self, and the general existential category. As expected, positive and modest correlations were observed between future orientation, self-efficacy, and academic achievement. Notably, self-efficacy and work/career future orientation were found to predict academic achievement. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance for school educational programs.

Features of anxiety and fears in adolescents with different tendencies to procrastination

Features of anxiety and fears in adolescents with different tendencies to procrastination

Approbation of the Methodology for Studying the Frequency and Intensity of Existential Fears in Adolescents 15–17 years’ Old

Introduction. The article deals with the problem of the growth of high-intensity fears among adolescents over the past year, and their identification with the help of its own psychodiagnostic technique. The study fills the lack of scientific works on studying the manifestation of fears in adolescents of the older age group.Purpose. To carry out approbation of the author's questionnaire-questionnaire "Peculiarities of actualization of existential fears of a personality", consisting of closed and open-ended questions, taking into account the difference between this methodology and other methods aimed at studying actual fears of a personality.Materials and Methods. The study was conducted with the involvement of high school students as respondents, a total of 98 people took part in the study. As a result of the study it was found that all boys and girls aged 15-17 have fears, but their distribution in terms of number, frequency and intensity differs in different gender groups. To confirm the adequacy of the integrative indicator "fear intensity", the methods "Life Satisfaction Scale" and "Death Anxiety Scale" were used. The Mann-Whitney U-criterion was used to confirm the reliability of differences between groups.Results. Content analysis of the open questions of the author's questionnaire-questionnaire made it possible to identify factors influencing the emergence and development of fears, their frequency and intensity, ways to overcome fears and understanding of the negative impact of high-intensity frequent fears by adolescents, as well as their need for professional psychological help.Discussion. This technique can be used as a screening tool to identify the frequency and intensity of fears in different gender and age groups, used for different purposes, including the identification of persons in need of further psychologically corrective work, which will prevent the development of existential fears of high intensity or reduce the intensity of these fears, which, in turn, will help to avoid distress associated with pathological fears, leading to possible personality maladaptation.

Effects of social buffering on fear extinction in adolescent rats

Across social species, the presence of another individual can reduce stress reactions to adverse stimuli, a phenomenon known as social buffering. The present study investigated whether social buffering influences the expression and extinction of learned fear in adolescence, a developmental period of diminished fear inhibition and increased social interaction. Quality of maternal care and degree of social investigation were examined as factors that may influence social buffering. In adolescence, male rats were fear conditioned and then given extinction training either in the presence of a same-age rat or alone. Animals were then tested alone for extinction retention. In two experiments, the presence of a conspecific robustly reduced conditioned fear responses during extinction training. Interestingly, a persistent social buffering effect was observed when the extinction and conditioning contexts had prominent differences in features (Experiment 1), but not when these contexts were relatively similar (Experiment 2). Neither quality of maternal care nor degree of social investigation predicted the effects of social buffering. These findings suggest that social buffering robustly dampens fear responses during adolescence when a peer is present and this suppression can persist, in some instances, even when the peer is absent.

Weight Status and its Relationship with Corona Fear, Food Diversity, and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents

Introduction: The social restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic likely influenced children's and adolescent's lifestyles and nutrition. This study sought to assess student dietary quality and physical activity levels during the pandemic, as well as examine their association with overweight risk. Methods: Four hundred and fifty-eight students aged 7–12 years old in Karaj, Iran, completed online self-administered questionnaires assessing diet, physical activity, and coronavirus fear. Using Kant's method and the Food Frequency Questionnaire, we obtained diversity scores for five food groups. Data were analyzed using R statistical software. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean dietary diversity score (DDS) was the lowest for the meat group and highest for the fruit group. A significant inverse relationship was observed between the meat group diversity score and student weight status (P = 0.02). The interaction of coronavirus fear and weight status with the meat group DDS was also significant in multivariate adjustment modeling (P = 0.018). Among overweight students, body mass index had a meaningful negative correlation with physical activity levels (r = −0.018, P = 0.016). In addition, a significant inverse association was detected between coronavirus fear and physical activity in univariate modeling (β = −145.47, 95% confidence interval: −248.81–−42.12, P ≤ 0.006). Conclusion: A significant association between coronavirus fear and reductions in physical activity as well as weight gain was observed. The study group also did not demonstrate sufficient dietary diversity. Therefore, we recommend promoting diet variety and physical activity for students as part of health-focused school curricula.

"The mere imagination scares me"-evidence for fear responses during mental imagery of pain-associated interoceptive sensations in adolescents with chronic pain.

According to the bio-informational theory of emotion by Lang, mental imagery of fearful stimuli activates physiological and behavioural response systems, even in the absence of sensory input. We investigated whether instructed mental imagery of pain-associated (not painful) interoceptive sensations entails a threat value and elicits increased startle response, skin conductance level (SCL), and heart rate (HR) indicative of defensive mobilization in adolescents with chronic pain. Additionally, self-reported measures (fear, fear of pain, desire to avoid) were assessed. Adolescents (11-18 years) with chronic headache (CH, n = 46) or chronic abdominal pain (CAP, n = 29) and a control group (n = 28) were asked to imagine individualized pain-associated, neutral and standardized fear scripts. During pain-associated compared with neutral imagery, both pain groups showed higher mean HR, with CH also showing higher HR reactivity, while HR acceleration was not observed within control group. In contrast, during pain-associated compared with neutral imagery, startle response magnitude and SCL remained unchanged in all groups. Additionally, overall levels in self-reports were higher during pain-associated compared with neutral imagery, but significantly more pronounced in the pain groups compared with the control group. Results suggest that the mere imagination of pain-associated sensations elicits specific autonomic fear responses accompanied by increased self-reported fear in adolescents with chronic pain. The specific modulation of heart rate shed new light on our understanding of multimodal fear responses in adolescents with chronic pain and may help to refine paradigms to decrease fear of interoceptive sensations in chronic pain.

Translation and Validation Study of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey in a Greek Population of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and their Parents.

The present study attempted to translate and culturally adapt an established research instrument, the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS) questionnaire, to the Greek population and evaluate its validity and internal consistency so that it can be used for the assessment of hypoglycemia fear in Greek children and adolescents with T1DM and their parents. One hundred Greek children and adolescents with T1DM, 54 males, 6-18 years old, and one of their parents participated in this validation study. The participants completed the translated Greek HFS, which includes one version for children (CHFS) and one for parents (PHFS). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to assess construct validity. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and convergent validity was established by estimating the correlation coefficients between the scores of the HFS scales/subscales and the different constructs of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. The CHFS and PHFS exhibited adequate internal consistency for the total score and the Worry subscale, but lower consistency for the Behavior subscale. High test-retest reliability was also shown. We conclude that the Greek version of the HFS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the fear of hypoglycemia in Greek children and adolescents with T1DM and their parents.

COVID-19-Related Fear among Youth in Israel

The present study sought to expand the now expansive research on COVID-19 by examining COVID-19-related fear among adolescents in Israel, focusing on demographic variables, COVID-19-related variables (e.g., exposure and vaccination), psychosocial variables (e.g., adolescent wellbeing and perceived social support), and technology usage (e.g., amount of time spent on social media). Data from parents were also collected, reflecting parental attitudes toward the pandemic, anxiety and depression, and wellbeing. A total of 150 youth aged 12–18 and 150 parents participated in the study. Findings indicated that being a female, having a parent who knew someone who had died from COVID-19, and never having tested positive for COVID-19 were positively associated with increased fear of COVID-19. Increased fear of being infected with COVID-19 was also associated with high levels of anxiety and depressive symptomatology in both youth and parents and with low parent subjective wellbeing. Youth who used social media for sharing experiences and for politics also reported such fear. Youth whose parents reported that the media exaggerated COVID-19 risks were less likely to fear something bad would happen to them or to a loved one or fear another outbreak of the virus. Our findings call for paying further scholarly and professional attention to the role intrapsychological, interpersonal, and social aspects play in processes of increased fear and wellbeing in adolescents who constitute a particularly vulnerable group to the mental health consequences of the pandemic.

Emotion Regulation as the Role Moderator of Self-Esteem on Adolescents Fear of Missing Out

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is derived from the anxiety that arises when an individual feels excluded from informational and experiential aspects due to exposure to social media. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the contribution of emotion regulation as a moderator on the role of self-esteem on adolescents fear of missing out. A quantitative method employing a causality design was employed, involving 349 active social media users aged 15 to 18. The measurement tools used consisted of psychological scales, namely fear of missing out, two-dimensional self-esteem, and emotion regulation questionnaire. Furthermore, the data analysis was conducted using Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA), which reported a significant impact of self-esteem on fear of missing out, with emotion regulation acting as a moderator. The result showed the significance of adolescents possessing positive self-esteem coupled with adaptive emotion regulation to mitigate the inclination towards experiencing fear of missing out while using social media.

Virtual Reality dalam Menurunkan Kecemasan dan Ketakutan pada Anak Usia Sekolah dan Remaja yang Dirawat

This study aims to identify the effect of virtual reality on the anxiety and fear of school-age children and adolescents when receiving treatment at the hospital. The method used is a systematic review of nine searched articles through the Proquest, Science Direct, Scopus, Pubmed, and Springer Link databases, and through hand searching, with article inclusion criteria using virtual reality interventions involving school-age children and adolescents in hospital settings, published between 2013-2022 in English and Indonesian, can be accessed in full text. The results of the study show that the use of virtual reality can reduce anxiety and fear in school-age children and adolescents who are hospitalized. In conclusion, distraction using virtual reality effectively reduces stress and worry in school-age children and adolescents who are hospitalized, so it can be the intervention of choice for nurses in providing nursing care to manage anxiety and fear.
 
 Keywords: Children, Anxiety, Fear, Hospitals, Virtual Reality

Experiences Of Papuan Teenagers When Menstruating

Background: Adolescence is marked by puberty which is one of the characteristics of women with the occurrence of menarche or the first menstruation as a sign of maturity of the sexual organs and the achievement of the ability to reproduce. Menstruation is periodic bleeding that occurs from the uterus which starts about 14 days after ovulation periodically due to the detachment of the uterine endometrial lining Objective: To identify the experiences of Papuan adolescents during menstruation in Jayapura City . Methods: This study uses a qualitative descriptive method. The number of participants there are six people who participated in this study were selected using purposive sampling method with data collection techniques with in-depth interviews with unstructured interviews. Results: This study found five themes, namely (1) adolescent view of menstruation as a sign of puberty, (2) complaints that are felt during menstruation, (3) fear of adolescents experiencing menstrual changes, (4) adolescent self-care during menstruation, (5) traditions during menstruation. Conclusion: Teenagers understand when they are menstruating and how to take care of themselves. Teenagers' perceptions of menstruation affect attitudes and behavior during menstruation and their reproductive health. So, it is advisable to provide education related to menstruation so that teenagers do not easily believe in information that is not certain the truth like rumor or other suggestion from media. Adolescence is marked by puberty which is one of the characteristics of women with the occurrence of menarche or the first menstruation as a sign of maturity of the sexual organs and the achievement of the ability to reproduce. Menstruation is periodic bleeding that occurs from the uterus which starts about 14 days after ovulation periodically due to the detachment of the uterine endometrial lining Objective: To identify the experiences of Papuan adolescents during menstruation in Jayapura City . Methods: This study uses a qualitative descriptive method. The number of participants there are six people who participated in this study were selected using purposive sampling method with data collection techniques with in-depth interviews with unstructured interviews. Results: This study found five themes, namely (1) adolescent view of menstruation as a sign of puberty, (2) complaints that are felt during menstruation, (3) fear of adolescents experiencing menstrual changes, (4) adolescent self-care during menstruation, (5) traditions during menstruation. Conclusion: Teenagers understand when they are menstruating and how to take care of themselves. Teenagers' perceptions of menstruation affect attitudes and behavior during menstruation and their reproductive health. So, it is advisable to provide education related to menstruation so that teenagers do not easily believe in information that is not certain the truth like rumor or other suggestion from media.

The relationship between temperament and dental fear and anxiety: a systematic review.

To investigate the relationship between temperament traits and dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children and adolescents by the means of a systematic review (PROSPERO #CRD42020207578). The PEO (Population, Exposure, and Outcome) strategy was followed using children and adolescents as the population, temperament as the exposure, and DFA as the outcome. A systematic search for observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort) without restrictions on year or language of publication was performed in seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO) in September 2021. Grey literature search was performed in OpenGrey, Google Scholar, and in the reference list of included studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were carried out independently by two reviewers. The Fowkes and Fulton Critical Assessment Guideline was used to assess methodological quality of each study included. The GRADE approach was performed to determine the certainty of evidence of relationship between temperament traits. This study recovered 1362 articles, of which 12 were included. Despite the high heterogeneity of methodological aspects, qualitative synthesis by subgroups showed a positive association/correlation between emotionality, neuroticism, and shyness with DFA in children and adolescents. Different subgroups analysis showed similar results. Eight studies were classified as having low methodological quality. The main shortcoming of the included studies is the high risk of bias and a very low certainty of evidence. Within its limitations, children and adolescents with a temperament-like emotionality/neuroticism and shyness are more likely to present higher DFA.

Anxiety Connected with Pelvic Ultrasound in Adolescents and Their Caregivers: Comparison of Transabdominal and Transrectal Approaches

Transabdominal US (TAUS) is usually the first approach for diagnosis of reproductive tract complaints in all adolescents. However, there are instances, when transrectal US (TRUS) is more feasible. Although TRUS is considered more invasive and distressing, evidence-based data are lacking. The study aimed to evaluate the level of anxiety in adolescents subjected to TAUS and TRUS and in their caregivers. In this cross-sectional study data were prospectively gathered using two instruments: adult or child version of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI or STAIC) and self-developed survey. TAUS and TRUS are connected with high level anxiety in patients and moderate anxiety in caregivers as measured by STAI/STAIC questionnaires; TRUS related anxiety, fear, discomfort and pain in adolescents are significantly higher as compared to TAUS; TRUS related anxiety of caregivers, as well as parent estimated fear, discomfort and pain of adolescents are significantly higher as compared to TAUS; Anticipated pain connected to TRUS, is significantly higher than the post-exam, actually experienced pain; Pain and shame are main reasons for adolescent anxiety connected with TRUS, whereas shame" and "unknown experience" contribute to TAUS related anxiety. Given high level of anxiety in both exams additional support should be provided to patients scheduled for any pelvic US exam; given even higher level of adolescent anxiety related to TRUS, specialists should be encouraged to train in TAUS and make efforts to begin with this approach; as increased caregiver anxiety may adversely affect child's reactions, anxiety reducing interventions should be oriented towards the caregivers as well as patients.

Interstrain differences in adolescent fear conditioning after acute alcohol exposure

Adolescent sensitivity to alcohol is a predictor of continued alcohol use and misuse later in life. Thus, it is important to understand the many factors that can impact alcohol sensitivity. Data from our laboratory suggested that susceptibility to alcohol-associated contextual fear learning deficits varied among adolescent and adult mice from two mouse strains. To investigate the extent of genetic background’s influences on adolescent learning after alcohol exposure, we examined how 9 inbred mouse strains differed in vulnerability to alcohol-induced contextual and cued fear conditioning deficits. We demonstrated significant strain- and sex-dependent effects of acute alcohol exposure on adolescent fear learning, with alcohol having most pronounced effects on contextual fear learning. Female adolescents were more susceptible than males to alcohol-induced impairments in contextual, but not cued, fear learning, independent of genetic background. Heritability for contextual and cued fear learning after alcohol exposure was estimated to be 31 % and 18 %, respectively. Learning data were compared to Blood Ethanol Concentrations (BEC) to assess whether strain differences in alcohol metabolism contributed to strain differences in learning after alcohol exposure. There were no clear relationships between BEC and learning outcomes, suggesting that strains differed in learning outcomes for reasons other than strain differences in alcohol metabolism. Genetic analyses revealed polymorphisms across strains in notable genes, such as Chrna7, a promising genetic candidate for susceptibility to alcohol-induced fear conditioning deficits. These results are the first to demonstrate the impact of genetic background on alcohol-associated fear learning deficits during adolescence and suggest that the mechanisms underlying this sensitivity are distinct from alcohol metabolism.