A preliminary investigation of the relationship of dental fear to other specific fears, general fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and harm sensitivity

/Home/Dental Phobia/Dental Phobia Articles

A preliminary investigation of the relationship of dental fear to other specific fears, general fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and harm sensitivity
Published article online:
20 Jul 2007
Submitted 22 June 2006; accepted 10 November 2006
To cite this article: Jason M. Armfield
A preliminary investigation of the relationship of dental fear to other specific fears, general fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and harm sensitivity
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (OnlineEarly Articles).
doi:10.1111/j.1600-0528.2007.00379.x
Blackwell Synergy

Jason M. ArmfieldAustralian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Jason M. Armfield, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia

Tel: +61 8 8303 4050
Fax: +61 8 8303 3070
e-mail: jason.armfield@adelaide.edu.au
Armfield JM. A preliminary investigation of the relationship of dental fear to other specific fears, general fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and harm sensitivity. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2007. © 2007 The Author.

Abstract
Objectives: People with dental fear often suffer from other psychological disorders, as well as from a number of other specific fears. Fear of going to the dentist may be associated not only with general fearfulness, but also with underlying personality dispositions. This exploratory study, therefore, investigated the associations between dental fear and 67 other specific fears, general fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and harm sensitivity.

Methods: Participants were 88 Australian adults who were administered the Fear Survey Schedule III (FSS-III), the Harm Sensitivity Index and the Disgust Sensitivity Index. Principle axis factor analysis with Promax rotation was used to examine how dental fear related to other specific fears as measured with the FSS-III.

Results: Dental fear was significantly correlated with most of the other specific fears, with factor analysis indicating that it tended to load more with fears related to lack of control rather than with what have often been classed as ÎmedicalÌ fears. Significant associations were found between dental fear and the personality dispositions of general fearfulness, harm sensitivity and disgust sensitivity, although these associations were not linear.

Conclusions: Findings reveal extensive co-occurrence of other specific fears with dental fear, while the associations of dental fear with personality traits suggest enduring aspects to dental fear which may translate into difficulties in fear alleviation. Dental fear was more related to a diverse range of fears relating to a loss of control than to medical-specific fears.

Blackwell Synergy? is a Blackwell Publishing, Inc. registered trademark

This article may be viewed in its entirety by subscription or by purchase at the website.