A longitudinal study of changes and associations in dental fear in parent/adolescent dyads. Issue 6 (28th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luoto, Anni; Tolvanen, Mimmi; Pohjola, Vesa; Rantavuori, Kari; Karlsson, Linnea; Lahti, Satu
• Is Part Of: International journal of paediatric dentistry. Volume 27:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 506
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2017-01-28
• Subjects: Pedodontics -- Periodicals; 617.645
• DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7439

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Dental fear seems to fluctuate, but concordance of changes in dental fears between parent/adolescent dyads has not been reported. Aim: To study longitudinally the associations between adolescent and parental dental fears and their changes. Design: Adolescents and parents reported their dental fear independently of each other when adolescents were between 11–12 and 15–16‐year‐olds. Eight hundred and seventeen eligible parent/adolescent dyads were included in the analyses. Dental fear was measured with a single question using five response alternatives. Associations between adolescent and parental dental fears and their changes were analysed using χ 2 tests and correlation coefficients. Results: Prevalence of dental fear remained rather similar during the study. There was a positive association between adolescent and parental dental fears in early adolescence ( P < 0.001) but at middle adolescence only among parent/girl dyads ( P = 0.007 for girls, P = 0.341 for boys). Changes in dental fear among parent/adolescent dyads did not correlate statistically significantly. Difference between girls' and boys' change in dental fear was statistically significant ( P = 0.001). Dental fear increased more often among girls than among boys. Boys had stable low/no dental fear more often than girls did. Conclusion: Adolescents' and parents' dental fears seemingly change independently of each other.