Investigating the Role of Predictor of Anxiety Sensitivity, Sensory Processing Sensitivity, Brain-Behavioral Systems and Alexithymia in Dental Anxiety

Considering the effect of dental hygiene in people’s general health and since facilitation of community members’ visits to dental offices results in the improvement and enhancement of the indexes of this health field, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between anxiety sensitivity, sensory processing, brain-behavioral systems and alexithymia and anxiety in dental patients. Materials &

This analytical study was carried out using non-random sampling technique by including 383 male and female subjects referring to dental clinics in Esfahan in 2018. Research tools consisted of anxiety sensitivity questionnaire, questionnaire on highly sensitive subjects, inhibition scale/behavioral activation, alexithymia questionnaire and dental anxiety questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS 22, using correlation test and multiple regression analysis.

The results showed that 28.4% of changes in dental anxiety can be explained with anxiety sensitivity, sensory processing sensitivity and alexithymia. In addition, 26.1% of changes in dental anxiety can be explained with two dimensions of anxiety sensitivities (fear of body concerns and fear of lack of cognitive control); and 17.3% of changes in this variable can be explained with different aspects of sensory processing sensitivity (ease of excitement, low sensory threshold and aesthetic sensitivity) (p value < 0.05).

There were significant relationships between the three variables of anxiety sensitivity, sensory processing sensitivity and alexithymia and dental anxiety of all the four predictors of the study; however, there was no significant relationship between brain-behavioral systems and dental anxiety.