Ephebiphobia (adolescent phobia): symptoms, causes and treatment.

A specific type of phobia directed against young people and adolescents in general.

Adolescence is one of the most important stages of life, a process of transformation and maturation both biologically and cognitively that takes us from childhood to adulthood. It is a difficult stage for those who live it, full of new experiences and the search for their own identity.

But in general it is not only difficult for the adolescent, but also for the adults around them: the behavior and way of thinking of adolescents, the change of roles and a possible but common rebelliousness towards authority often lead to small conflicts.

Although it can be a complex stage for most people, it ends up passing without invalidating anyone's day-to-day life. However, some people feel real dread, at an irrational level, when exposed to contact with adolescents. This is what happens in the case of ephebiphobiacondition about which we are going to speak next.

• Article related: "Types of phobias: exploring the disorders of fear".

The ephebiphobia: what is it?

It receives the name of ephebiphobia or ephebophobia to the specific phobia to the adolescents and young people.. It is a real but rare phobia, which would be considered a specific type of phobia, although it has a strong link with social phobia. Although technically ephebiphobia should refer to adolescents, since its conception it has referred not only to that age but also to young people up to 35 years of age.

As a specific phobia, it involves the emergence of a powerful panic before a specific stimulus or situation, in this case adolescents.

This fear appears irrational and exaggerated in relation to the possible risk posed by the presence of the feared thing, and the mere idea of being exposed to it generates such a level of anxiety that an anxiety crisis can occur, causing physical symptoms such as tachycardia, hyperventilation, tremors, hyperhidrosis, hyperhidrosis, etc. physical symptoms such as tachycardia, hyperventilation, tremors, hyperhidrosis, and even the and even the belief that one is dying, losing control of one's own body or even one's sanity. In addition, this fear and anxiety are so strong that they lead the person to make active efforts to avoid as much as possible the stimulus he/she fears or situations or stimuli that may be associated with it.

It is also worth mentioning that in addition to the fear itself, at the social level it is also sometimes called ephebiphobia. is also called ephebiphobia or ephebophobia to the tendency to think badly about youth and adolescence. and the way they act nowadays, or to hate, despise, undervalue and feel rejection for youth without any cause, also in a way often irrational and biased by stereotypes and prejudices (similar for example to what happens with homophobia or transphobia).

Thus, not only does it have an effect on the individual sufferer, but it can also lead to the development of discriminatory and even belligerent attitudes towards people at this stage of life.

Symptoms

Ephebiphobia is undoubtedly a type of phobia that generates a great affectation to whoever suffers it, and not only to that person, but also can have implications at the social and community level..

Someone who has a phobia or hatred of young people and adolescents will tend to avoid them and everything associated with them. Thus, they will tend to avoid crowds and situations where there is an influx of young people, such as areas with schools, educational institutions or entertainment venues such as nightclubs.

Personal relationships not only with adolescents and personal relationships not only with adolescents and young people but also with people who associate with people of these ages, such as families with adolescent children, can also be avoided.such as families with adolescent children. To an extreme degree and especially if the reaction is panic, it is possible to isolate oneself and even have difficulties to go out in the street, although this is much less frequent.

As we have said, there is also a social impact, although in this aspect the reaction of hatred, contempt and depreciation towards this sector of the population is fundamentally relevant: the achievements, contributions and ideas proposed by young people can be ignored and discarded regardless of their merits, and can lead to a reaction of rejection and rejection. discrimination against young people at the social, professional and even academic levels..

They may be given fewer opportunities and left out of relevant decisions regardless of their ability. The fact that this discrimination is picked up by young people themselves also leads to them having less interest in becoming socially involved, something that in the long run and with an increasingly aging population can even be dangerous for the community.

Possible causes of adolescent fear

The causes of ephebiphobia are not completely known.However, it is considered that there is no single cause, but rather an accumulation of factors that may influence its appearance.

To begin with, the phobia can appear due to conditioning: it is possible that the person with ephebiphobia has suffered some aversive experience in adolescence or youth, for example, bullying during adolescence or suffering some type of abuse by a minor or a young person.

Another possible cause of this phobia is the acquisition of a vicarious or learned conditioning at a sociocultural level. Negative stereotypes of youth have often been internalized, both by the family environment and at the social level: young people are considered to be uncontrolled, not very responsible and farsighted, violent, and prone to risk-taking and risk-taking. and tending to risk, disrespect and excess.

These prejudices are generalized and extend to all youth, provoking aversive reactions to their presence. In addition, the media also participate in this fact, often and until relatively recently perpetuating stereotypes and the belief that young people are inexperienced beings, interested only in themselves or as something that has to have a chance in the future but not now (sometimes for commercial interest).

Likewise, behind ephebophilia may lie behind the fear and the rejection of social change and generational changeto lose one's position and role held so far in favor of the new generations.

Treatment of this phobia

It is possible to treat ephebophobia, as with all other phobias. To begin with, exposure therapy is one of the most effective in the treatment of this type of problem.The person must gradually expose him/herself to contact with what he/she fears, so that anxiety gradually decreases and he/she can move towards situations that generate a higher level of anxiety.

As far as stereotypes are concerned, exposure can also help to reduce them: mere exposure to groups about which prejudices exist can often make us able to bond with them and learn that preconceived ideas are not applicable to all cases.

Relaxation techniques are also very useful to reduce anxiety and basic discomfort.

Another aspect that should be worked on, and in fact in great depth, is the cognitive aspect. Understanding what it is that generates discomfort, fear or displeasure, why it generates it and what meaning it has for the subject can help to work on it, in such a way that it can contribute to modify beliefs and ways of approaching reality. in such a way that they become more adaptive and realistic. Psychoeducation and participation in joint activities with the feared population may also be useful, as well as working with members of the environment who may be young or adolescent and whose relationship with the subject may be impaired (e.g., children or nieces and nephews).

Bibliographical references:

• Astroth, K.A. (1994). Beyond Ephebiphobia: Problem Adults or Problem Youth? Developing Public Library Resources for Young Adults. Florida Department of State, Division of Library Information Services, Tallahassee.