Fear the dentist spreads from parents to children.

-The fear of visiting the query is a common problem in pediatric dentistry. A new study confirms the emotional transmission of this fear among members of the family and analyzes the roles played by the mothers and parents for the first time

Spain, November 2012- new research, carried out by scientists from the University Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid, underlines the important role that parents play in the transmission of fear to the dentist in the family.

Previous studies had already identified that levels of this fear of parents and children are associated, but until now had not explored the roles different fathers and mothers in this phenomenon.

As explains America Lara Sacido, one of the authors of the study, along with the presence of emotional fear of transmission to the dentist among the members of the family, we have identified the important role of parents with regard to mothers in the contagion of this phobia ”.

The research, published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, analyzes 183 children aged between 7 and 12 years of the community of Madrid and to their parents. The results are consistent with previous research which found that levels of fear of fathers, mothers and children are correlated.

The father, a key factor

The authors confirmed that, the higher the level of anxiety or dental fear in some Member of the family, more will suffer it the rest. The study also revealed that parents have a key role in the transmission of fear dentist mothers children by acting as a mediator variable.

although the results should be made with the proper precautions, children seem to primarily attend the emotional reactions of parents to decide if dental events are potentially stressful ”, says Lara Sacido.

Thus, transmission of the fear of the mother the child might be influenced – either to increase or decrease the anxiety – reaction that the father exhibits at the dentist.

Emotional contagion positive

Among the possible implications of these results, the authors highlight two: the need to involve both parents as mothers – and especially to the first – in the prevention of dental fear campaigns; and try to make that parents attend the consultation showing absence of concern.

Facing in dental care, work with parents is essential. Parents come calm is as interesting as directly seek the child to relax ”, says the author. By way of positive emotional contagion in the family could to induce the appropriate State that provide dental care in child ”, concludes.

References:

America Lara-Sacido, Antonio Crego & Martin Romero-Maroto. Emotional contagion of dental fear to children: the fathers ’ mediating role in parental transfer of fear ”. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 324 – 330