MONITORING-BLUNTING COPING STYLES AND COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS OF DENTAL FEAR

The present study investigates whether monitoring (i.e. vigilant) and blunting (i.e. avoidant) coping styles are associated with cognitive s ymptoms of dental fear. Results show that monitoring is positively rel ated to the frequency and believability of negative thoughts about den tal treatment, and negatively with the ability to control such thought s. The opposite pattern is found for blunting. That is, blunting corre lates negatively with the frequency and believability of negative thou ghts, whereas a positive association emerges with cognitive control. T hese findings are in line with the Monitoring Process Model which prop oses that 'monitors' (compared to 'blunters') generally show greater d istress and arousal because of the way in which they cognitively elabo rate threat.