Dutch students' dental anxiety and occurrence of thoughts related to treatment

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1995 Jun;23(3):170-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1995.tb00223.x.

Abstract

The present study was intended to explore the relationship between individuals' level of dental anxiety and thoughts (both self-statements and mental images) related to dental treatment. Subjects were 210 psychology students (75 males, 135 females). The results showed that 98% of the subjects reported one or more negative or catastrophic thoughts. A significant positive relationship was found between reported severity of anxiety (S-DAI scores) and frequency of thoughts. The results indicate that dental anxiety is associated with the tendency to experience negative or threatening thoughts concerning treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology*
  • Concept Formation
  • Dental Anxiety / psychology*
  • Dental Care / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Manifest Anxiety Scale
  • Middle Aged
  • Negativism
  • Netherlands
  • Students
  • Surveys and Questionnaires