Research has shown that people often develop a fear of heights later in life. About one in ten adults suffers from some type of phobia. Paul Blenkiron, a consultant psychiatrist and spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK, says that adults typically develop fears of certain things between the ages of 15 and 25.
He said: “Many children have fears, but they often grow out of them over time, and we wouldn’t label these childhood fears as phobias. But if the fear persists into adulthood, it can be classified as a phobia and may continue to affect the person throughout their life.”
However, Kevin Gournay, an emeritus professor at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, says that a fear of heights usually begins later in life. He says this is largely related to our sense of balance. “As you get older, your balance organs tend to wear out, and your body is also more likely to become fragile.”
Older adults are more likely to be troubled by the possibility of falling, and these concerns can amplify the fear. However, Professor Gournay says that while a fear of heights may worsen with age, other phobias actually tend to diminish. He explains: “As you age, your production of adrenaline significantly decreases, so many of your phobias also fade away. You may still have the fear, but you won’t feel the same level of anxiety as you did when you were younger. Generally speaking, phobias tend to improve with age, but if your phobia is related to things that make you feel vulnerable—like fear of heights or fear of crowds—it may get worse.”
A 2014 YouGov survey supports his theory, finding that 49% of people aged 18–24 had a fear of heights, compared with 61% of participants aged 40–59, and 64% of those aged 60 and above. Conversely, the number of young adults afraid of spiders (59%) was about double that of participants over 60 (32%).
Phobias come in many different forms—fears related to spiders, heights, blood, dentists, specific objects, as well as social phobias. Professor Gournay says that health-related phobias (excessive worry about getting ill) are more common among younger people.
The key to overcoming a phobia is facing it—otherwise, it will only get worse. Some research even suggests that such stress can shorten your lifespan. A 2012 study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, USA, found that women with phobic anxiety had shorter telomeres, and shorter telomeres are generally associated with premature aging.