Fear of COVID-19 tied with dental anxiety and poorer oral health-related quality of life

The present study evaluated the association of fear of COVID-19 with dental anxiety, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress), as well as exploring the mediating role of dental anxiety in the association of fear of COVID-19 with OHRQoL and psychological distress.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in high schools of Qazvin city (Iran) from March-June 2021, recruited through a two-stage cluster sampling method. All the adolescents completed a self-administered survey assessing (i) fear of COVID-19, (ii) depression, anxiety and stress, (iii) OHRQoL, and (iv) dental anxiety. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate all the hypothesised associations, and the model fit was estimated.

Results of the study are:

• A total of 2429 adolescents participated in the study.
• The conceptual model fitted the data well. Fear of COVID-19 had a direct effect on dental anxiety, depression, anxiety, stress, and OHRQoL.
• Also, dental anxiety mediated the association of fear of COVID-19 with depression, anxiety stress, and OHRQoL.

Thus, High levels of fear of COVID-19 were associated with high levels of dental anxiety and poorer OHRQoL. Moreover, fear of COVID-19 was positively associated with anxiety, depression and stress. Increased levels of dental anxiety were also associated with increased anxiety, stress, depression, and poorer OHRQoL.

Reference:

Tofangchiha, M., Lin, CY., Scheerman, J.F.M. et al. Associations between fear of COVID-19, dental anxiety, and psychological distress among Iranian adolescents. BDJ Open 8, 19 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-022-00112-w

Keywords:

High levels, fear, COVID-19, high, levels, dental, anxiety, poorer, OHRQoL, Dental anxiety and phobia Health care, BDJ Open, Maryam Tofangchiha, Chung-Ying Lin, Janneke F. M. Scheerman, Anders Broström, Hanna Ahonen, Mark D. Griffiths, Santosh Kumar Tadakamadla & Amir H. Pakpour