J. Hoogstraten

Prevalence of dental fear and phobia relative to other fear and phobia subtypes

The purpose of the present study was to estimate the point prevalence of dental fear and dental phobia relative to 10 other common fears and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV-TR subtypes of specific phobia. Data were also analysed to examine differences with regard to severity, presence of distressing recollections of fear-related events, gender, and prevalence across age. Data were obtained by means of a survey of 1,959 Dutch adults, 18-93 yr of age. Phobias were assessed based on DSM-IV-TR criteria, whereas severity of present fears was assessed using visual analogue scales. The prevalence of dental fear was 24.3%, which is lower than for fear of snakes (34.8%), heights (30.8%), and physical injuries (27.2%). Among phobias, dental phobia was the most common (3.7%), followed by height phobia (3.1%) and spider phobia (2.7%). Fear of dental treatment was associated with female gender, rated as more severe than any other fear, and was most strongly associated with intrusive re-experiencing (49.4%). The findings suggest that dental fear is a remarkably severe and stable condition with a long duration. The high prevalence of dental phobia in the Netherlands is intriguing and warrants investigation in other countries.

Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory among dentists: burnout measurement and trends

OBJECTIVES To extend our knowledge about the applicability of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) among dentists and to investigate trends in burnout risk among dental professionals. METHODS The structure of the MBI is examined among two independent, representative samples of dentists (n = 493 and 497, respectively). Moreover, results are compared to those of other independently-practicing health professionals (i.e., general practitioners and physiotherapists). In addition, the percentage of dentists that are at risk for burnout are compared in samples from 1997, 2000, and 2001. RESULTS Correlations between the Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization subscales among dentists were higher than those found elsewhere. Additionally, a considerable increase in burnout risk was found since 1997. CONCLUSIONS It was confirmed that the MBI can be considered a suitable instrument for use among dentists. It is argued that certain specific aspects of entrepreneur-like occupations are reflected in deviating responses to the MBI. Given the clear increase in burnout risk found, this topic should remain under investigation among dentists.

The Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule: Predictive Value and Clinical Usefulness

This study reports on the predictive value and clinical usefulness of the Dutch parental version of the Dental Subscale of the Childrens Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS). Parents of 718 children (4–12 years) completed this CFSS-DS version before or during the childs visit. The dentist rated the childs dental fear during treatment on a 5-point Likert-type Scale from 1 (not afraid at all) to 5 (very afraid). Reliability analysis was performed, and correlation coefficients between the two measures were calculated. The reliability of the scale proved to be high (Cronbachs α = .93) and significant correlation coefficients were found (r = .58 and r = .68, p < .01). The negative predictive value of the CFSS-DS was high (.96), whereas its positive predictive value was relatively low (0.41). It was concluded that the CFSS-DS might be of clinical value as a screening device of dental fear, whereas its predictive value of fearful behavior should not be overestimated.

Childhood dental fear in relation to parental child-rearing attitudes.

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between parental self-reported child-rearing attitudes and dental fear in children. The parents of 51 children with high dental fear and of 56 children with low dental fear, of different age groups, completed the Amsterdam version of the Parental Attitude Research Instrument. In addition, parents were asked to rate their own dental fear. Multivariate analysis of variance (child fear x parental fear x child age) showed a significant main effect only of child dental fear on parental self-complaints (p = .03). For parental dental fear, main effects were found on overprotection and on promotion of autonomy (p ≤ .01). No age effects were found. Also, no relation between childrens dental fear and parental dental fear was found. Based on the present findings, it was concluded that parents may play a more secondary, mediating role in the etiological process of dental fear in children.

Pretesting as Determinant of Attitude Change in Evaluation Research

Two experiments were done to study the biasing effects of a pretest on subsequent posttest results. The problem of the first experiment was the evalua tion of a programmed textbook used by psychology freshmen. It used a separate-sample pretest-posttest design and showed that a pretest containing mostly negative statements on programmed instruction confounded posttest results. The second experi ment, using a different treatment, studied the pre test effects of positive or negative statements. The positive version counteracted the development of negative feelings towards the treatment. The negative version did not show a similar sensitizing effect. This was considered a consequence of the rather controversial character of the treatment and the obligatory participation of subjects. The nega tive statements perhaps confirmed existing at titudes. Three suggestions to control for pretest sen sitization effects were given: (1) use research de signs with control conditions; (2) separate the pre test phase from the posttest phase; and (3) give more emphasis to designs without pretests.

THROUGH THE ONE-WAY MIRROR

Three laboratory experiments allow description of how the presence of a one-way mirror raises feelings of vulnerability and test anxiety. It turned out that, despite some occasional differences, task performance was not a function of the presence of a one-way screen in the experimental room. The absence of significant results raises the question of how certain one can be that in general no meaningful effects can be ascribed to this feature of the situation. Four reasons are discussed for accepting or rejecting the null hypothesis without reserve.

The reactive effect of pretesting in attitude change research: General or specific?

In an earlier study it was found that a pretest containing positive statements counteracted the development of negative feelings toward a treat ment. The present experiment sought both to repli cate the earlier study and to answer an additional question: Is the biasing effect general or is it re stricted to pretest content? Again, it appeared that a positive pretest acts as a device to counteract the development of negative sentiments. The effect size, small in the original experiment, was even smaller in the present experiment. Moreover, it was found that the sensitization effect operated only when the pretest and the posttest were identical. Using dis similar pretest and posttest measures eliminated the biasing effect. It is widely recognized that the standard pre test-treatment-posttest design raises the problem of a pretest sensitization effect. Nevertheless, measures prior to treatment are frequently used in attitude change research. There are a number of reasons for this preference of pretesting over a randomized design without a pretest (e.g., Chris tensen, 1977; Lana, 1969).

The Relationship of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal To Sex and Four Selected Personality Measures for a Sample of Dutch First-Year Psychology Students

In reaction to an earlier publication by Simon and Ward (1974) on the 1952 version of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, data are presented on the relationship of the 1964 forms of the same instrument to four selected noncognitive measures for a sample of 190 Dutch psychology students. Except for Subtest 5, Evaluation of Arguments, subtest and total score means were significantly lower for Form ZM than for Form YM. Reliabilities of the Watson-Glaser (W-G) subtests ranged from only .22 to .69. Total score KR-20 reliability estimates, however, were .72 (ZM) and .77 (YM). No sex differences were found. The correlation between the W-G total scores and those on the extroversion-introversion measure was not significant. Correlations of the W-G measure with other personality characteristics (neuroticism and rigidity) were also close to zero. As for version ZM of the W-G measure the performance was significantly associated with test-defensiveness.