Association of Dental Anxiety with Color Preferences in Pediatric Dental Patients

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

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

Öz

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. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Kaynakça

1. 1. Field AP, Lawson J. Fear information and the development of fears during childhood: effects on implicit fear responses and behavioural avoidance. Behav Res Ther 2003;41(11):1277-1293. google scholar
2. 2. Annamary K, Prathima GS, Sajeev R, Kayalvizhi G, Ramesh V, Ezhumalai G. Colour Preference to Emotions in Relation to the Anxiety Level among School Children in Puducherry - A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Diagn Res 2016;10(7):ZC26-ZC30. google scholar
3. 3. Babaji P, Chauhan P, Churasia VR, Kaur T, Singh S, Augustine M. A cross-sectional evaluation of children preference for dentist attire and syringe type in reduction of dental anxiety. Dent Res J (Isfahan) 2018;15(6):391-396. google scholar
4. 4. Babaji P, Chauhan PP, Rathod V, Mhatre S, Paul U, Guram G. Evaluation of child preference for dentist attire and usage of camouflage syringe in reduction of anxiety. Eur J Dent 2017;11(4):531-536. google scholar
5. 5. Umamaheshwari N, Asokan S, Kumaran TS. Child friendly colors in a pediatric dental practice. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2013;31(4):225-228. google scholar
6. 6. Rantavuori K, Sihvonen A, Tolvanen M, Lahti S. The significance of previous invasive and orthodontic treatment experiences on children’s dental fear. Eur J Orthod 2014;36(4):409-413. google scholar
7. 7. ten Berge M, Veerkamp JS, Hoogstraten J, Prins PJ. Parental beliefs on the origins of child dental fear in The Netherlands. ASDC J Dent Child 2001;68(1):51-54. google scholar
8. 8. Torgersen S. The nature and origin of common phobic fears. Br J Psychiatry 1979;134(4):343-351. google scholar

9. 9. Wu Y, Shi Z, Shi J. Randomized controlled trial study for preventing dental fear during caries treatments. Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2002;37(5):343-345. google scholar
10. 10. Park JG. Color perception in pediatric patient room design: healthy children vs. pediatric patients. HERD 2009;2(3):6-28. google scholar
11. 11. Phillip Park JG, Park C. Color Perception in Pediatric Patient Room Design: American versus Korean Pediatric Patients. HERD 2013;6(4):10-26. google scholar
12. 12. Asokan A, Kambalimath HV, Patil RU, Maran S, Bharath KP. A survey of the dentist attire and gender preferences in dentally anxious children. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2016;34(1):30-35. google scholar
13. 13. Bahammam S. Children’s preferences toward dentist attire in Al Madinah Al Munawarah. Patient Prefer Adherence 2019;13:601-607. google scholar
14. 14. Bubna K, Hegde S, Rao D. Role of Colors in Pediatric Dental Practices. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;41(3):193-198. google scholar
15. 15. Ram D, Hermida ML, Jerozolimsky AB, Slav OY, Wang HY, Abbate FP, et al. Children’s Preferences for Pediatric Dentist Attire: A Multicenter Study. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;42(3):195-202. google scholar
16. 16. Palmer SE, Schloss KB. An ecological valence theory of human color preference. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010;107(19):8877-8882. google scholar
17. 17. Komarova NL, Jameson KA. A quantitative theory of human color choices. PLoS One 2013;8(2):e55986. google scholar
18. 18. Strauss ED, Schloss KB, Palmer SE. Color preferences change after experience with liked/disliked colored objects. Psychon Bull Rev 2013;20(5):935-943. google scholar
19. 19. Taylor C, Clifford A, Franklin A. Color preferences are not universal. J Exp Psychol Gen 2013;142(4):1015-1027. google scholar
20. 20. Taylor C, Schloss K, Palmer SE, Franklin A. Color preferences in infants and adults are different. Psychon Bull Rev 2013;20(5):916-922. google scholar
21. 21. Racey C, Franklin A, Bird CM. The processing of color preference in the brain. Neuroimage 2019;191:529-536. google scholar
22. 22. DeBenedictis CN, Liu GT, Nelson LB, Leiby BE, Dai Y, Levin AV. Physician use of white coats in pediatric ophthalmology. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2014;51(1):13-16. google scholar
23. 23. Longmuir S, Gilbertson A, Pfeifer W, Olson RJ. Pediatric ophthalmology attire: should we wear a white coat? Insight 2010;35(4):11-13. google scholar
24. 24. Mistry D, Tahmassebi JF. Children’s and parents’ attitudes towards dentists’ attire. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2009;10(4):237-240. google scholar
25. 25. Souza-Constantino AM, Claudia de Castro Ferreira Conti A, Capelloza Filho L, Marta SN, Rodrigues de Almeida-Pedrin R. Patients’ preferences regarding age, sex, and attire of orthodontists. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2018;154(6):829-34.e1. google scholar
26. 26. Rehman SU, Nietert PJ, Cope DW, Kilpatrick AO. What to wear today? Effect of doctor’s attire on the trust and confidence of patients. Am J Med 2005;118(11):1279- 1286. google scholar
27. 27. Spielberger CD, Edwards CD. State-trait anxiety inventory for children : STAIC : How I feel questionnaire : professional manual. Redwood City, Calif.: Mind Garden; 1973.pp.44. google scholar
28. 28. Özusta S. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children adaptation, validity and reliability study. Turkish J Psychol. 1995;10(34):32-44. google scholar
29. 29. Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL. State-trait anxiety inventory for children: sampler set: manual, test booklet and scoring keyl. Redwood City, Calif.: Mind Garden; 1983.pp.70. google scholar
30. 30. Lüscher M. The Lüscher color test. New York, Random House; 1969. pp.185. google scholar
31. 31. Aminabadi N A, Pourkazemi M, Babapour J, and Oskouei S G. The impact of maternal emotional intelligence and parenting style on child anxiety and behavior in the dental setting. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 2012;17(6):e1089-e1095. google scholar
32. 32. Ramos-Jorge J, Marques LS, Homem MA, et al. Degree of dental anxiety in children with and without toothache: prospective assessment. Int J Paediatr Dent 2013;23(2):125-130. google scholar