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The Theory-based Psychological Predictors of Dental Anxiety Among Adolescents

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting dental anxiety among adolescents.
Methods: The study had a cross-sectional design and included 1207 S2 students of 12 secondary schools which were randomly selected from Hong Kong. Data were collected through clinical dental examinations (DMFT) and the questionnaire regarding constructs of health belief model, individual socioeconomic status, oral health behaviors and dental anxiety. Hierarchical regression analyses and structure equation modeling were applied to analyze data. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model: pathways to predict dental anxiety based on HBM both directly and via oral health behaviors.
Results: The final model of hierarchical regression analyses showed that girls had higher dental anxiety levels than boys (β=0.096, p<0.01); adolescents who flossed weekly had lower dental anxiety (β=-0.064, p<0.05); and general anxiety (β=0.261, p<0.001), perceived susceptibility (β=0.077, p<0.05) and perceived severity (β=0.094, p<0.01) were all positively associated with dental anxiety levels. The revised final model of path analysis showed a good fit to the model (TLI=0.977; CFI=0.996; RMSEA=0.021; χ2=10.735; df=7; p=0.151). Perceived susceptibility and perceived severity both had a direct effect on dental anxiety.
Conclusions: Our reports support that HBM can predict dental anxiety among adolescents both directly and via oral health-related behaviors.
Division: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
Meeting: 2020 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (Washington, D.C., USA)
Location: Washington, D.C., USA
Year: 2020
Final Presentation ID: 3312
Abstract Category|Abstract Category(s): Behavioral, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research
Authors
  • Xiang, Bilu  ( The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , Hong Kong )
  • Wong, Hai Ming  ( University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , Hong Kong )
  • Mcgrath, Colman  ( University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , Hong Kong )
    • Financial Interest Disclosure: NONE
    SESSION INFORMATION
    Poster Session
    Dental Practice Characteristics, Dental Programs & Dental Fear & Anxiety
    TABLES
    Hierarchical multiple regression of Dental Anxiety using the sociodemographic background, oral health related behaviors and psychological factors-step3
    Predictor variablesβrR2ΔR2
    Step 3 0.3740.140***0.097***
    Gender0.096**   
    Father’s education level0.020   
    Mother’s education level0.057   
    Family income-0.034   
    Brushing behavior-0.055   
    Flossing behavior-0.064*   
    Sugar consumption-0.035   
    Annual dental visit0.017   
    dt0.010   
    ft0.053   
    Generalized anxiety0.261***   
    Perceived susceptibility0.077*   
    Perceived severity0.094**   
    Perceived benefits-0.022   
    Perceived barriers0.056   
    Cues to action-0.012   
    Self-efficacy-0.023   
    Note. Significant differences indicated by ***p < .001; **p < .01; *p < .05. The dummy variable coding: Gender, 1=Male, 2=Female; Father’s education level, 1=Elementary school, 2=High school, 3=College or above; Mother’s education level, 1= Elementary school, 2= High school, 3=College or above; Family income: 1=HK$15,000 or below, 2=HK$15,001-50,000, 3= HK$50,001 or above; Brushing behavior: 1=Once a day or less often, 2=Twice or more a day; Flossing behavior: 1=Never or rare, 2=At least once a week; sugar consumption: 1=At least once a week, 2=Less than once a week; Annual dental visit: 1=no, 2=yes.
    Hierarchical multiple regression of Dental Anxiety using the sociodemographic background, oral health related behaviors-step 2
    Predictor variablesβrR2ΔR2
    Step 2 0.2060.043***0.021**
    Gender0.136***   
    Father’s education level0.020   
    Mother’s education level0.034   
    Family income-0.048   
    Brushing behavior-0.090**   
    Flossing behavior-0.078*   
    Sugar consumption-0.048   
    Annual dental visit0.012   
    dt0.005   
    ft0.062   

    Hierarchical multiple regression of Dental Anxiety using the sociodemographic background-step 1
    Predictor variablesβrR2ΔR2
    Step 1 0.1450.021**0.021**
    Gender0.136***   
    Father’s education level0.010   
    Mother’s education level0.018   
    Family income-0.051   

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