ABSTRACT
Scary thoughts are common for all mothers; however, some women may be at a higher risk to experience scary thoughts compared to others. This chapter reviews the current research on factors that confer increased vulnerability for scary thoughts across four main classes of factors—genetics, biology, thinking styles, and environmental stressors. A biopsychosocial model of scary thoughts is also presented to illustrate how these factors interact to confer risk. Readers are encouraged to identify their own vulnerability factors to begin to recognize ways in which they may be able to modify their predisposition, such as by targeting thinking styles or stressors.
