Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2005):

Child coping strategies, dental anxiety and dental treatment: the influence of age, gender and childhood caries prevalence.

Full Abstract

AIM: This was to investigate what coping strategies are used by children, the efficacy of these strategies and the influences of age, gender, dental anxiety, pain experience and childhood caries prevalence (place of residence) upon the efficacy of the coping strategies used by Dutch (NL) children in The Netherlands and Northern Ireland (NI). METHODS: Convenience samples of Dutch and NI children were taken and asked to fill out a coping questionnaire (Dental Cope Questionnaire) and an anxiety schedule (CFSS-DS). Data were entered onto a SPSS database and subjected to frequency distributions, Chi-square analysis, t-tests and analysis of variance. RESULTS: The children used a wide variety of coping strategies in dealing with pain in dentistry. The most frequently used and those reported to have the greatest efficacy by the children in this investigation were cognitively based strategies. Different strategies were used in relation to place of residence, age and level of dental anxiety. The variance in the number of strategies used was significantly explained by the experienced pain during dental treatment. The efficacy of the coping strategies used was significantly explained by level of dental anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Dental coping strategies used by children seem to vary with age, dental anxiety and pain experience. This information can help dental practitioners to adjust his or her treatment to the child's emotional needs.

Author information

Author/s: Van Meurs, P (P); Howard, K E (KE); Versloot, J (J); Veerkamp, J S J (JS); Freeman, R (R);

Affiliation: Depts of Cariology, Endontology, Pedodontology, ACTA, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: European journal of paediatric dentistry : official journal of European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (Eur J Paediatr Dent), published in Italy. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Dec; vol 6 (issue 4) : pp 173-8

Dates: Created 2006/01/23; Completed 2006/02/28; Revised 2007/02/21;

PMID: 16426115, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological Adolescent Adolescent Behavior Age Factors Attitude to Health Child Child Behavior Dental Anxiety - psychology Dental Care - psychology

Dental Caries - classification Female Humans Male Netherlands Northern Ireland Pain - psychology Residence Characteristics Sex Factors

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