Selective Mutism (SM) is a rare anxiety disorder characterized by consistently not speaking in (social) situations, in which speaking is required. Little research has been done on SM. Literature...Show moreSelective Mutism (SM) is a rare anxiety disorder characterized by consistently not speaking in (social) situations, in which speaking is required. Little research has been done on SM. Literature suggests that adolescents with social anxiety disorder (SA), which SM has many similarities with, apply more maladaptive coping strategies and less adaptive coping strategies, than adolescents without SA. In addition, boys seem to apply more maladaptive coping strategies than girls. However, there are no studies yet that confirm this for SM. The current study therefore aimed to investigate whether different coping strategies are used between adolescents with and without SM and what the role of gender is in this. In the study 79 adolescents participated with their parents, including 34 adolescents with SM and 45 adolescents without SM. The self-report questionnaire FEEL-KJ (Fragebogen zur Erhebung der Emotionsregulation bei Kindern und Jugendlichen) was used to identify the coping strategies used by adolescents. The study revealed that adolescents with SM used significantly more maladaptive coping strategies and less adaptive coping strategies than adolescents with SA. No significant difference was found in the use of external regulation strategies between adolescents with and without SM. There was no significant difference found in the use of coping strategies between boys and girls either. Also, no interaction was found between gender and SM in relation to coping strategies. The results provide a first indication of the coping strategies used in adolescents with SM, however, follow-up research should be conducted to confirm or disconfirm these results. Subsequently, this knowledge can be used in the treatment of SM.Show less
