Dimensionality of dental anxiety measurements |
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| Authors: | Albert H B Schuurs Hugo J Duivenvoorden Sijo K Thoden van Velzen Frans Verhage Peter C Makkes Michiel A J Eijkman |
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| Institution: | Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Pedodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus University, Rotterda, The Netherlands;Department of Community Dentistry, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | A survey among 620, 30-40-yr-olds, was carried out in order to measure dental anxiety with Corah's DAS, Weiner's AALC, and some other questions on anxiety, among which was the duration of psychophysiologic responses prior to a dental appointment. The data were analyzed with a Non Metric Components analysis. The DAS turned out to be unidimensional. The AALC on the other hand appeared to contain four components. A second stage analysis comprising the DAS component, the four AALC components, and the remaining variables revealed a two-dimensional structure, of which only the first component is dentistry related. This component showed better differentiation of the respondents than with DAS or AALC alone. Part of AALC's questions and a question about anxiety in daily life proved to be superfluous for measuring dental anxiety. It is concluded that dental anxiety and anxiety in general have to be measured with questions covering different aspects. |
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| Keywords: | behavioral dental science dental anxiety dental survey |
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