The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Children’s Behavior/Dental Anxiety and Their Exposure to Media in Alexandria, Egypt (A Cross-Sectional Study)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The socioeconomic status (SES) of the family has a direct effect on children's media habits and exposure hours to media which could be a factor for development of behavior and anxiety problems among children. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SES on children's behavior management problems (BMP)/dental anxiety (DA) during dental treatment and their exposure to media in Alexandria, Egypt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 95 patients with age range from 5 to 8 years with simple carious primary molars enrolled in the study.Socioeconomic status was assessed using Fahmy and Elsherbini Scale and media habits were assessed by a questionnaire answered by the mother or the father during the first visit of each patient. After one week, dental procedure was done and behavior management problems/ dental anxiety were scored using Frankl Rating Scale and Clinical Anxiety Rating Scale respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant relation between socioeconomic status, BMP/DA and exposure to media. However, BMP/DA was the highest at very low level, violent media exposure was the highest at middle level, exposure hours to media was the highest at both high and middle levels and finally, introduction to media exposure began at very young age range in high social level while it was at older age range in the very low social level in Alexandria, Egypt. CONCLUSION: Behavior management problems and DA were more associated with very low social level while total exposure hours to media was more associated with high and middle social levels in Egypt. However, there was no statistically significant relation between socioeconomic status, children's BMP/DA and their exposure to media.