A longitudinal study of changes and associations in dental fear in parent/adolescent dyads.

BACKGROUND

Dental fear seems to fluctuate, but concordance of changes in dental fears between parent/adolescent dyads has not been reported.

AIM

To study longitudinally the associations between adolescent and parental dental fears and their changes.

DESIGN

Adolescents and parents reported their dental fear independently of each other when adolescents were between 11-12 and 15-16-year-olds. Eight hundred and seventeen eligible parent/adolescent dyads were included in the analyses. Dental fear was measured with a single question using five response alternatives. Associations between adolescent and parental dental fears and their changes were analysed using χ tests and correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

Prevalence of dental fear remained rather similar during the study. There was a positive association between adolescent and parental dental fears in early adolescence (P < 0.001) but at middle adolescence only among parent/girl dyads (P = 0.007 for girls, P = 0.341 for boys). Changes in dental fear among parent/adolescent dyads did not correlate statistically significantly. Difference between girls' and boys' change in dental fear was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Dental fear increased more often among girls than among boys. Boys had stable low/no dental fear more often than girls did.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents' and parents' dental fears seemingly change independently of each other.