Relationship of the Parenting Style with Parental Acceptance of the Behavioral Management Techniques

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the relationship of the parenting style with parental acceptance of the behavioral management techniques for pediatric dental patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on parents of 64 children between 3-6 years at their first dental visit. Parenting style was assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Parents then watched a video of behavioral management techniques, and their acceptance of each technique was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed with Spearman’s correlation test (alpha=0.05).

Results: Of all, 60.9% had authoritative, 23.5% authoritarian, and 15.6% permissive parenting style. Positive reinforcement was the most accepted technique by the parents for cooperative children (75% totally agreed, p=0.01), while general anesthesia was the most accepted technique for non-cooperative children (54.7% totally agreed, p=0.01).  Authoritative parenting style showed significant positive correlation with Tell-Show-Do (TSD) (p=0.004) and parent separation (p=0.003), and inverse correlation with general anesthesia (p=0.01) and Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) sedation (p=0.003). Authoritarian parenting style correlated positively with voice control (p<0.001), active restraint (p<0.001), passive restraint (p<0.001), and general anesthesia (p=0.03), and inversely with TSD (p=0.001) and parent separation (p<0.001). Permissive parenting style correlated positively with TSD (p=0.002), positive reinforcement (p=0.01), and parent separation (p<0.001), and inversely with voice control (p=0.04), active (p<0.001) and passive restraint (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Parenting style significantly affected parental acceptance of behavioral management techniques and should be considered in choosing techniques for pediatric dental patients.