title: Psychosocial predictors of dental anxiety.
abstract: Building on earlier research on psychosocial predictors of dental anxiety, this study examined the predictive ability of several demographic and personality variables. To accomplish this goal, a combined sample of 89 dental patients and 55 college students completed a self-report survey. Results indicated that greater age, female gender, lower income, greater satisfaction with life, greater thought suppression, and a stronger internal health locus of control predicted higher levels of dental anxiety. Possible strategies for reducing both thought suppression and exaggerated levels of internal health locus of control were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USA. hittnerj@cofc.edu
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hittner
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemmo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult