Stressful situations for toddlers: indications for dental anxiety?
The present study was undertaken to examine if daily anxiety-provoking situations can predict dental anxiety in a toddler. Parents of 73 toddlers were sent 2 questionnaires: 1) the Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS), and 2) the Inventory of Stressful Situations (ISS), a list of 16 questions developed to assess anxiety in daily stressful situations. This investigation was repeated one year later. Forty-eight parents completed all questionnaires. Results show a clear correlation between daily stressful situations at the age of 3 and dental anxiety at the age of 3 (r = .62, p < 0.01, two-tailed) and at the age of 4 (r = .49, p < 0.01, two-tailed). Regression analyses revealed that the ISS at the age of 3 predicted dental anxiety at the age of four; however, it did not contribute additionally if the CFSS-DS score at the age of three was included.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily anxiety-provoking situations in 3-year-old children may be related to dental anxiety at the age of 4.
Klaassen
Marleen Antoinette
MA
Pedodontology Section, Cariology Department, Academish Centre Tandheelkunde Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam.
Veerkamp
Jacobus Simon Johannes
JS
Aartman
Irene Helena Adriana
IH
Hoogstraten
Johan
J
D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology