Association of Dental Anxiety with Color Preferences in Pediatric Dental Patients

Year 2022, Volume: 22 Issue: 1, 42 - 47, 18.05.2022

Banu Çiçek Tez , Başak Eliaçık , Fırat Erdoğan

https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2022.1082536

Abstract

Objective: People’s color preferences have been a subject of research and curiosity for many years. Among the methods aimed at minimizing such fears in children is the careful selection of colors in the environment in order to prevent individuals from developing negative feelings. The present study evaluates the association between colors and anxiety in a pediatric dental patient population aged 7–14 through a quantitative test. Material and Methods: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the faces version of Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS-f) and the quick version of the Lüscher Color Test (LCT), respectively, were administered to 65 patients and 48 age and sex matched controls while in the waiting room before treatment. Results: The MCDAS-f and STAIC state scale scores were significantly and moderately correlated with the LCT scores, while there was no statistically significant correlation between the STAIC trait and the LCT scores. The mean LCT score was 6.06±2.85 in the patient group and 3.22±2.21 in controls (p<0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study support that the colors preferred by children during dental examination and treatment are in fact those that reflect their moods rather than those that should be used in dental surgery environments and medical attire, contrary to previous studies investigating the association between color preferences and anxiety in pediatric dentistry.

Keywords

Child, color, dental anxiety, dentistry, lüscher color test, personality inventory

Pediatrik Diş Hekimliği Pratiğinde Anksiyete’nin Luscher Renk Testi ile Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: İnsanların renk tercihleri uzun yıllardır araştırma ve merak konusu olmuştur. Çocuklarda olumsuz duyguların gelişmesini önlemek ve bu tür korkuları en aza indirmek amacıyla kullanılan yöntemler arasında, ortamda kullanılan renklerin dikkatli seçilmesi yer almaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 7-14 yaş arası çocuk hasta grubunda, renklerin anksiyete üzerindeki etkisinin nicel bir test olan Luscher testi ile değerlendirilmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Ağız ve diş muayenesi yapılacak olan 65 çocuk hastaya muayene öncesinde, Çocuklar için Durumluk-Sürekli Kaygı Envanteri (STAIC), Modifiye Çocuk Diş Anksiyete Yüz Skalası (MCDAS-f) ve Lüscher Renk Testi (LCT) yapılmıştır. Tedavi yapılmayacak 48 hasta da kontrol grubu olarak belirlenmiş ve aynı testler bu hastalara da uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: MCDAS(f) ve STAIC testlerinin ölçüm değerleri, LCT değerleri ile anlamlı ve orta düzeyde korelasyon gösterirken, STAIC ile LCT verileri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir korelasyon bulunamamıştır. Ortalama LCT skoru hasta grubunda 6.06±2.85 iken ve kontrol grubunda 3.22±2.21 olduğu kaydedilmiştir (p< 0.001). Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, çocuk diş hekimliğinde anksiyete ile renk tercihleri arasındaki ilişkiyi araştıran önceki çalışmaların aksine, çocukların diş muayenesi ve tedavisi sırasında tercih ettikleri renklerin, diş kliniği ortamı ve tıbbi kıyafetlerde kullanılması gereken renklerden ziyade ruh hallerini yansıtan renkler olduğunu desteklemektedir. 

Keywords

Çocuk, dental anksiyete, diş hekimliği, renk, kişilik envanteri, lüscher renk testi

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