Correlation of Digital Gaming Habit with Dental Anxiety and Cooperation of Pediatric Dental Patients
Effect of Digital gaming on child’s dental anxiety
-
Yasaman Lotfali
,
Marzieh Salehi Shahrabi
,
Mehrsa Paryab
,
Alireza Heidari
,
Mohammad Javad Kharrazi Fard
Abstract
Objectives: Using computers from a young age can affect cognitive development and social behavior of children. This study aimed to assess the effect of digital gaming habit on anxiety and behavior of children in a dental setting.
Materials and Methods: A total of 137 children between 4 to 6 years seeking their first dental treatment were selected for this cross-sectional study. In the first session, the children were familiarized with the dental setting. In the second session, the parents received a questionnaire regarding the digital gaming habit of their children to fill out. Then, the children underwent dental treatment. The behavior of children during the procedure was video-taped, observed, and scored according to the Frankl behavior rating scale (FBRS) and the Venham clinical anxiety scale (VCAS). Data were analyzed by the Pearson’s correlation coefficient at 0.05 level of significance, and multiple linear regression-backward method at 0.1 level of significance.
Results: The mean score of the gaming questionnaire was 44.21 out of 100. The coefficient for the correlation of VCAS and FBRS scores with the gaming questionnaire score was 0.556 and -0.496, respectively. The FBRS and VCAS scores had no significant correlation with demographic variables (P>0.1). But the gaming questionnaire score had a significant correlation with mothers’ occupation (P=0.072).
Conclusion: The present results revealed that digital gaming habit increased dental anxiety and negative behavior of children. It is imperative to educate the parents and children at the community level regarding selection of appropriate games and duration of playing.
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22. Alaki SM, Al-Raddadi RA, Sabbagh HJ. Children's electronic screen time exposure and its relationship to dental anxiety and behavior. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2023 Jan;18(4):778-786.
23. Zarebidoki F, Bahrololoomi Z, Vafaee Shahi M. Investigation of the relationship of media habits with anxiety and fear in dentistry among people aged 6 to 15 years. J Mash Dent Sch 2022 Dec; 46(4): 372-83.
24. Deolia S, Chaurasia AV, Kohale RA, Makode SS, Nimbulkar G, Chhabra KG. Relation between media habits with behavior management problems along with dental anxiety during dental procedures in children. J Prim Care Dent Oral Health. 2021 May;2(2):44-8.
25. Mobarek NH, Khalil AM, Talaat DM. Exposure to electronic screens and children's anxiety and behavior during dental treatment. J Dent Child (Chic). 2019 Sep;86(3):139-44.
26. Jamali Z, Vatandoost M, Erfanparast L, Aminabadi NA, Shirazi S. The relationship between children's media habits and their anxiety and behaviour during dental treatment. Acta Odontol Scand. 2018 Apr;76(3):161-8.
27. Baniebrahimi G, Khosravinejad A, Paryab M, Kharazifard MJ. Effects of virtual reality versus game applications on children's dental fear: A randomized clinical trial. Int J Pediatr-Mashhad. 2022;10(12):17068-76.
28. Domingues-Montanari S. Clinical and psychological effects of excessive screen time on children. J Paediatr Child Health. 2017 Apr;53(4):333-8.
29. Eirich R, McArthur BA, Anhorn C, McGuinness C, Christakis DA, Madigan S. Association of screen time with internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in children 12 years or younger: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022 May;79(5):393-405.
30. Lissak G. Adverse physiological and psychological effects of screen time on children and adolescents: Literature review and case study. Environ Res. 2018 Jul;164:149-57.
31. Garrison MM, Liekweg K, Christakis DA. Media use and child sleep: the impact of content, timing, and environment. Pediatrics. 2011 Jul;128(1):29-35.
32. Nikkelen SW, Valkenburg PM, Huizinga M, Bushman BJ. Media use and ADHD-related behaviors in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Dev Psychol. 2014 Sep;50(9):2228-41.
33. Swing EL, Gentile DA, Anderson CA, Walsh DA. Television and video game exposure and the development of attention problems. Pediatrics. 2010 Aug;126(2):214-2.
2. Boyce WT. The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatr Dent. 2014 Mar-Apr;36(2):102-8.
3. Lee CY, Chang YY, Huang ST. Prevalence of dental anxiety among 5‐to 8‐year‐old Taiwanese children. J Public Health Dent. 2007 Winter;67(1):36-41.
4. Alasmari AA, Aldossari GS, Mohammed S. Dental anxiety in children: A review of the contributing factors. Children. 2018;5(7):10-7860.
5. Abanto J, Vidigal EA, Carvalho TS, Sá SN, Bönecker M. Factors for determining dental anxiety in preschool children with severe dental caries. Braz Oral Res. 2017 Jan:31:e13.
6. Erfanparast L, Vafaei A, Sohrabi A, et al. Impact of self-concept on preschoolers’ dental anxiety and behavior. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects. 2015 Summer;9(3):188-92.
7. Klingberg G, Broberg AG. Dental fear/anxiety and dental behaviour management problems in children and adolescents: a review of prevalence and concomitant psychological factors. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2007 Nov;17(6):391-406.
8. Akarslan ZZ, Erten H, Uzun O, Iseri E, Topuz O. Relationship between trait anxiety, dental anxiety and DMFT indexes of Turkish patients attending a dental school clinic. East Mediterr Heal J. 2010 May;16(5):558-62.
9. Kappos AD. The impact of electronic media on mental and somatic children's health. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2007 Oct;210(5):555-62.
10. Akbay Oba A, Dülgergil CT, Sönmez IS. Prevalence of dental anxiety in 7- to 11-year-old children and its relationship to dental caries. Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(6):453-7.
11. Jordan A. The role of media in children's development: an ecological perspective. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2004 Jun;25(3):196-206.
12. Singh M. Compulsive digital gaming: An emerging mental health disorder in children. Indian J Pediatr. 2019 Feb;86(2):171-3.
13. De Pasquale C, Chiappedi M, Sciacca F, Martinelli V, Hichy Z. Online videogames use and anxiety in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children (Basel). 2021 Mar;8(3):205.
14. Saleem N, Young P, Yousuf S. Exploring the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and anxiety among children and adolescents: A systematic narrative review. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 2024 Nov 1;27(11):771-97.
15. Stiglic N, Viner RM. Effects of screentime on the health and well-being of children and adolescents: a systematic review of reviews. BMJ Open. 2019 Jan;9(1):e023191.
16. Wang JL, Sheng JR, Wang HZ. The association between mobile game addiction and depression, social anxiety, and loneliness. Front Public Health. 2019 Sep;7:247.
17. Fazeli Z, Mazdarani S, Hosseini H. Relationship between duration of gaming with anxiety and depression. J Maz Univ Med Sci. 2018 Sep;28(164):146-51.
18. González-Bueso V, Santamaría JJ, Fernández D, Merino L, Montero E, Ribas J. Association between internet gaming disorder or pathological video-game use and comorbid psychopathology: A comprehensive review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Apr;15(4):668.
19. Przybylski AK. Electronic gaming and psychosocial adjustment. Pediatrics. 2014 Sep;134(3):e716-22.
20. Parkes A, Sweeting H, Wight D, Henderson M. Do television and electronic games predict children's psychosocial adjustment? Longitudinal research using the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Arch Dis Child. 2013 May;98(5):341-8.
21. Mitrofan O, Paul M, Spencer N. Is aggression in children with behavioural and emotional difficulties associated with television viewing and video game playing? A systematic review. Child Care Health Dev. 2009 Jan;35(1):5-15.
22. Alaki SM, Al-Raddadi RA, Sabbagh HJ. Children's electronic screen time exposure and its relationship to dental anxiety and behavior. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2023 Jan;18(4):778-786.
23. Zarebidoki F, Bahrololoomi Z, Vafaee Shahi M. Investigation of the relationship of media habits with anxiety and fear in dentistry among people aged 6 to 15 years. J Mash Dent Sch 2022 Dec; 46(4): 372-83.
24. Deolia S, Chaurasia AV, Kohale RA, Makode SS, Nimbulkar G, Chhabra KG. Relation between media habits with behavior management problems along with dental anxiety during dental procedures in children. J Prim Care Dent Oral Health. 2021 May;2(2):44-8.
25. Mobarek NH, Khalil AM, Talaat DM. Exposure to electronic screens and children's anxiety and behavior during dental treatment. J Dent Child (Chic). 2019 Sep;86(3):139-44.
26. Jamali Z, Vatandoost M, Erfanparast L, Aminabadi NA, Shirazi S. The relationship between children's media habits and their anxiety and behaviour during dental treatment. Acta Odontol Scand. 2018 Apr;76(3):161-8.
27. Baniebrahimi G, Khosravinejad A, Paryab M, Kharazifard MJ. Effects of virtual reality versus game applications on children's dental fear: A randomized clinical trial. Int J Pediatr-Mashhad. 2022;10(12):17068-76.
28. Domingues-Montanari S. Clinical and psychological effects of excessive screen time on children. J Paediatr Child Health. 2017 Apr;53(4):333-8.
29. Eirich R, McArthur BA, Anhorn C, McGuinness C, Christakis DA, Madigan S. Association of screen time with internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in children 12 years or younger: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022 May;79(5):393-405.
30. Lissak G. Adverse physiological and psychological effects of screen time on children and adolescents: Literature review and case study. Environ Res. 2018 Jul;164:149-57.
31. Garrison MM, Liekweg K, Christakis DA. Media use and child sleep: the impact of content, timing, and environment. Pediatrics. 2011 Jul;128(1):29-35.
32. Nikkelen SW, Valkenburg PM, Huizinga M, Bushman BJ. Media use and ADHD-related behaviors in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Dev Psychol. 2014 Sep;50(9):2228-41.
33. Swing EL, Gentile DA, Anderson CA, Walsh DA. Television and video game exposure and the development of attention problems. Pediatrics. 2010 Aug;126(2):214-2.
| Issue | Vol 23 (Continuously Published Article-Based) | |
| Section | Original Article | |
| Keywords | ||
| Dental Anxiety Dental Care for Children Pediatric Dentistry Video Games | ||
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Lotfali Y, Salehi Shahrabi M, Paryab M, Heidari A, Kharrazi Fard MJ. Correlation of Digital Gaming Habit with Dental Anxiety and Cooperation of Pediatric Dental Patients. Front Dent. 2026;23.
