Dental Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Facebook Intrusion

M Sobol; A Senejko; A Blachnio; J Chwaszcz

doi:10.1922/CDH_00034Sobol04

Dental Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Facebook Intrusion

Community Dent Health. 2022 Aug 30;39(3):187-190. doi: 10.1922/CDH_00034Sobol04.

Authors

M Sobol¹, A Senejko², A Blachnio³, J Chwaszcz³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
² Department of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Poland.
³ Department of Psychology, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland.

PMID: 35605103
DOI: 10.1922/CDH_00034Sobol04

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationships between dental anxiety, Facebook intrusion, and shame.

Methods: A sample of 498 adults aged 16-69 years completed an online questionnaire comprising the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, the Facebook Intrusion Scale, and the Shame scale from the Test of Self-Conscious Affect.

Results: Dental anxiety was positively associated with Facebook intrusion. There were also indirect effects of dental anxiety on Facebook intrusion through shame.

Conclusions: The results highlight the problem of dental anxiety in the context of Facebook intrusion risk. The findings may be applicable in Internet dependency prevention and treatment, focused on help in coping with the anxiety related to doctors' appointments.

Keywords: Facebook intrusion; Shame; dental anxiety.

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety
Dental Anxiety
Emotions
Humans
Risk Factors
Social Media*
Surveys and Questionnaires