SELF-REPORTED AND PHYSIOLOGICALLY MEASURED DENTAL ANXIETY, COPING STYLES AND PERSONALITY-TRAITS

The present study explores the relationship between coping styles and other personality aspects on the one hand and self-reported and physio logically measured dental anxiety on the other. In addition, it is inv estigated whether coping styles and/or personality aspects do add to t he prediction of physiologically measured dental anxiety. Self-reporte d dental anxiety and physiological activation were assessed during two prescheduled sessions: immediately prior to a dental check-up visit ( stress session), and one month later without a dental check-up (baseli ne sessions). The results indicate that physiological activity associa ted with an oncoming dental check-up may be predicted, in addition to dental anxiety self-report, by emotion-focused coping styles. Other im portant determinants of the physiological response may be characterize d by dental anxiety self-report in combination with low controllabilit y, unpredictability, novelty and possibly feelings of anger. Only neur oticism appeared to be related to self-reported dental anxiety, but wa s unsuccessful in the prediction of physiological activation.