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Changes over time in adult dental fear and correlation to depression and anxiety: a cohort study of pregnant mothers and fathers
Author(s) -
Tolvanen Mimmi,
Hagqvist Outi,
Luoto Anni,
Rantavuori Kari,
Karlsson Linnea,
Karlsson Hasse,
Lahti Satu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/eos.12026
Subject(s) - anxiety , childbirth , pregnancy , depression (economics) , medicine , obstetrics , dental fear , longitudinal study , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , macroeconomics , pathology , economics , biology , genetics
We aimed to evaluate (i) changes in dental fear over time during pregnancy and after delivery among mothers and fathers and (ii) whether these changes inter‐relate to changes in depression and anxiety. Longitudinal pilot data for the F inn B rain C ohort study were used. Of 254 pregnant families, 80% agreed to participate and 60% returned questionnaires at the first data‐collection point. After three data‐collection points [weeks 18–20 and 32–34 of pregnancy ( H 18–20 and H 32–34, respectively), and 3 months after childbirth], 99 mothers and 74 fathers had filled out at least two out of three M odified D ental A nxiety S cale questionnaires and were included in this study. Other questionnaires used were the E dinburgh P ostnatal D epression S cale, the S tate T rait A nxiety I nventory, and the P regnancy R elated A nxiety Q uestionnaire. All scales were analyzed as sum scores. Among mothers, dental fear decreased during late pregnancy and increased slightly after childbirth, but no statistically significant correlations between dental fear and depression or anxiety, except for fear of giving birth, were found. Among fathers dental fear increased and was correlated with depression and anxiety. Dental fear seems to fluctuate among women during pregnancy and could be affected by hormonal changes.