The Relationship between Parenting Style and Dental Anxiety in 4-6 Years Old Children

Fatemeh Haghshenas Gorgabi; Shahrzad Javadinejad; Elham Babaei

doi:10.18502/ijds.v18i3.11241

Fatemeh Haghshenas Gorgabi Dentist, School of Dentistry, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Shahrzad Javadinejad Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Elham Babaei Postgraduate student, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijds.v18i3.11241

Keywords: Parenting, Dental anxiety, Child.

Abstract

Introduction: Control on children`s dental anxiety is one of the important & effective factor predicting treatment success. Personality factors & parenting style can be very effective in children`s dental anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parenting styles and child`s dental anxiety and behavior in dental setting.

Materials & Methods: This is a descriptive study done a sample of 126 children aged 4-6 years old and their parents participated in this study in the year 2020. Sampling method was nonrandom and simple. MCDASf questionnaire was used to measure children`s dental anxiety and Bumrind questionnaire was used for scores of parenting styles. Data were analyzed by Pearson Correlation, Spearman Correlation, and chi-square tests.

Results: A significant relationship between the score of authoritative parenting style in parents and pediatric dental anxiety (p value = 0.803, r = 0.022). However, a significant inverse relationship was observed between the score of authoritarian parenting style in parents and children's dental anxiety (p value < 0.001, r = -0.307). Also, a direct and significant relationship was observed between the score of permissive parenting style in parents and children's dental anxiety (p value < 0.001, r = 0.318).

Conclusion: Dental anxiety and behavior in children is associated with parenting style.