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Attitude toward death: does it influence dental fear?
Gábor Fábián1, Orsolya Müller, Szilvia Kovács
1Clinic of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi utca 47, 1088, Budapest, Hungary.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|May 8, 2007
Summary
Fear of death significantly influences dental anxiety in young individuals, particularly those with high dental fear. This connection is evident in their responses and associations with dental stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Dental anxiety is a prevalent issue affecting individuals of all ages.
- The psychological underpinnings of dental anxiety, including existential fears, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between fear of death and dental anxiety in Hungarian schoolchildren.
- To examine how attitudes toward death correlate with dental fear and anxiety levels.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 277 Hungarian elementary and secondary school students (ages 8-18).
- Utilized the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), Dental Fear Scale (DFS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S and STAI-T), and Lester's Attitude Toward Death Scale.
- Analyzed quantitative data on fear and anxiety scores, and qualitative data from drawings and free associations.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between fear of death and dental anxiety.
- Subjects reporting a connection between dental fear and fear of death exhibited higher anxiety scores.
- Death-related content appeared more frequently in drawings and associations among older students and those perceiving higher dental fear in their social circle.
Conclusions:
- Fear of death exerts a discernible influence on dental fear, especially in individuals with heightened dental anxiety.
- Attitudes toward death may shape perceptions of dental fear within a social context.
- Further research is warranted to understand and mitigate the impact of existential fears on dental well-being.
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