Influence of electronic media on anxiety and behavior of 3-6 year old children in the dental setting

Abstract

The present study evaluated the influence of extent and type of electronic media use on anxiety and behavior of preschool children in dental setting Materials and methods: two _hundred eighty nine 3-6-year-old children and their parents were included in this study. Anxiety related disorders were screened by SCAREED scale. Extent and type of electronic media use was evaluated by questionnaire that filled by parents. Dental anxiety and behavior management problems were evaluated by clinical anxiety rating scale and frankl scale respectively during dental treatment. For all subjectsone mandibular deciduous molar tooth were restored after inferior alveolar nerve block and isolation with rubber dam. Results: The results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant relationship between extent of daily TV watch and dental anxiety (P<0.001) and extent of daily TV watch and behavior management problems (P=0.002). as well as this test showed significant relationship between extent of time spent daily on computer and dental anxiety (P=0.002) and extent of time spent on computer and behavior management problems (P=0.021).Results of regression models showed that behavior management problems(P=0.013) and dental anxiety in children (P=0.013) were related to the extent of daily TV watching by children. But the regression models did not show a significant relationship between the extent of the use of computer games and Internet and dental anxiety and behavior management problem (P>0.05). Conclusion: It has been concluded that there is a relationship between dental anxiety and behavior management problems and the extent of daily use of electronic media in 3-6-year-old children and extent of daily TV watching is better predictor for dental anxiety and behavior management problems than use of computer games and Internet.