The impact of maternal emotional intelligence and parenting style on child anxiety and behavior in the dental setting

Abstract

Objective. The present study investigated the correlations between maternal emotional intelligence (EQ), parenting style, child trait anxiety and child behavior in the dental setting. Study design. One-hundred seventeen children, aged 4-6 years old (mean 5.24 years), and their mothers participated in the study. The BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory and Bumrind's parenting style questionnaire were used to quantify maternal emotional intelligence and parenting style. Children's anxiety and behavior was evaluated using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and Frankl behavior scale. Results. Significant correlation was found between maternal EQ and child behavior (r=0.330; p<0.01); but not between parenting style and child behavior. There was no significant correlation between mother's total EQ and child's total anxiety; however, some subscales of EQ and anxiety showed significant correlations. There were significant correlations between authoritarian parenting style and separation anxiety (r=0.186; p<0.05) as well as authoritative parenting style and mother's EQ (r=0.286; p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between child anxiety and behavior (r = -0.81). Regression analysis revealed maternal EQ is effective in predicting child behavior (β=0.340; p<0.01). Conclusion. This study provides preliminary evidence that the child's behavior in the dental setting is correlated to mother's emotional intelligence. Emotionally intelligent mothers were found to have predominantly authoritative parenting style.

Behaviour problems of children with ASD and perceived stress in their caregivers: The moderating role of trait emotional intelligence?

“…For example, in a recent study by Aminabadi et al (2012), children whose parents reported higher levels of TEI displayed fewer behaviour problems during a routine dental examination. Moreover, along with other variables related to making sense of, describing and understanding emotions (e.g., alexithymia), TEI has been shown to moderate psychological responses to other stressful life events.…”

Down to Earth: Planetary Health and Biophilosophy in the Symbiocene Epoch

“…Higher EI can predict subsequent academic success [139], and, remarkably, higher EI in math educators has been linked with greater achievement among their young students [140]. Maternal EI has been shown to be predictive of offspring EI and adaptive behavior in children under stressful conditions [141,142]. Encouragingly, EI is malleable and programs geared toward EI can improve mental health, well-being, and empathy [143][144][145].…”

Interrelationship Between Intelligence Quotient and Space Maintainers Among Children: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

“…In the current study, fluid intelligence and reasoning ability are widely applied interchangeably. The level of intelligence determines the outcome of dental treatment since dentistry is an interactive field [ 13 ]. Henceforth, RCPM is used to evaluate the IQ of children in this study; it is designed to measure the level of both intellectual development and logical thinking due to its simplicity in questioning.…”