Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years
<b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Objectives:</b> Our aim was to study whether the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is reliable and valid for use in children aged 9 to 12 years. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Methods:</b> The study populatio...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Satu Lahti Mika Kajita Vesa Pohjola Auli Suominen |
| author_facet | Satu Lahti Mika Kajita Vesa Pohjola Auli Suominen |
| author_sort | Satu Lahti |
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| description | <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Objectives:</b> Our aim was to study whether the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is reliable and valid for use in children aged 9 to 12 years. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Methods:</b> The study population was a convenient sample of Finnish comprehensive school pupils in the third and sixth grades (N = 57 and N = 69, respectively). Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) were measured with the Finnish validated adult version of MDAS, the modified Child Fear Survey Schedule—Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS-M), and a single question. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. The criterion validity of MDAS was assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients against CFSS-DS-M and the single question. Construct validity was assessed by examining the ability of MDAS to find differences according to gender and treatment procedures using the chi-square test for categorized and the Mann–Whitney and Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Results:</b> The Cronbach alphas were 0.841, 0.708, and 0.778 for MDAS total, anticipatory, and treatment-related DFA, respectively. Correlations between MDAS and CFSS-DS-M total and subscale scores were moderate to strong (ρ = 0.559–0.794), supporting criterion validity. Girls in third grade had lower mean MDAS anticipatory DFA (3.4, SD = 1.44) than boys (4.5, SD = 2.21, <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">p</i> = 0.051). In sixth graders, girls had higher mean MDAS treatment-related DFA (8.4, SD = 3.17) than boys (6.9, SD = 2.61, <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">p</i> = 0.067). Children reporting orthodontic treatment had lower anticipatory DFA (mean = 3.4, SD = 2.13) than children not reporting (mean = 4.0, SD = 1.83; <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">p</i> = 0.009), supporting construct validity. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Conclusions:</b> The Finnish version of the MDAS showed good reliability, good criterion validity, and acceptable construct validity, supporting its use in children aged 9–12 years. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b62b5dd4e094e1d92a01e469ac26562 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4b62b5dd4e094e1d92a01e469ac265622025-08-20T03:24:36ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672025-05-0113624810.3390/dj13060248Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 YearsSatu Lahti0Mika Kajita1Vesa Pohjola2Auli Suominen3Department of Community Dentistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, FinlandDepartment of Community Dentistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, FinlandDepartment of Community Dentistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, FinlandDepartment of Community Dentistry, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland<b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Objectives:</b> Our aim was to study whether the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) is reliable and valid for use in children aged 9 to 12 years. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Methods:</b> The study population was a convenient sample of Finnish comprehensive school pupils in the third and sixth grades (N = 57 and N = 69, respectively). Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) were measured with the Finnish validated adult version of MDAS, the modified Child Fear Survey Schedule—Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS-M), and a single question. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. The criterion validity of MDAS was assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients against CFSS-DS-M and the single question. Construct validity was assessed by examining the ability of MDAS to find differences according to gender and treatment procedures using the chi-square test for categorized and the Mann–Whitney and Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Results:</b> The Cronbach alphas were 0.841, 0.708, and 0.778 for MDAS total, anticipatory, and treatment-related DFA, respectively. Correlations between MDAS and CFSS-DS-M total and subscale scores were moderate to strong (ρ = 0.559–0.794), supporting criterion validity. Girls in third grade had lower mean MDAS anticipatory DFA (3.4, SD = 1.44) than boys (4.5, SD = 2.21, <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">p</i> = 0.051). In sixth graders, girls had higher mean MDAS treatment-related DFA (8.4, SD = 3.17) than boys (6.9, SD = 2.61, <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">p</i> = 0.067). Children reporting orthodontic treatment had lower anticipatory DFA (mean = 3.4, SD = 2.13) than children not reporting (mean = 4.0, SD = 1.83; <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">p</i> = 0.009), supporting construct validity. <b data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Conclusions:</b> The Finnish version of the MDAS showed good reliability, good criterion validity, and acceptable construct validity, supporting its use in children aged 9–12 years.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/6/248dental feardental anxietychildrenreliabilityvalidity |
| spellingShingle | Satu Lahti Mika Kajita Vesa Pohjola Auli Suominen Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years Dentistry Journal dental fear dental anxiety children reliability validity |
| title | Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years |
| title_full | Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years |
| title_fullStr | Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years |
| title_short | Reliability and Validity of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Among Children Aged 9 to 12 Years |
| title_sort | reliability and validity of the modified dental anxiety scale among children aged 9 to 12 years |
| topic | dental fear dental anxiety children reliability validity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/6/248 |
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