Origins of childhood dental fear

Abstract

This study explored Rachman's theory of fear acquisition applied to fear of the dentist in a large sample of low income American primary school children. Children and their mother/guardians were interviewed or completed questionnaires in the home about fear acquisition and related concerns. A multivariate logistic regression model was evaluated in order to explore the relationship of direct conditioning and modeling variables to fear levels. Both direct conditioning and parent modeling factors were significant independent predictors of fear level even when controlling for gender, age and other sociodemographic and attitudinal factors.