Relationship between locus of control and effects of coping strategies on dental stress in children

Abstract

Forty females and 40 males (equal number of Internals and Externals) aged 9-12 years who exhibited moderate to high dental anxiety were randomly assigned to a group rehearsing coping strategies for stress and anxiety or to a placebo condition. Subjects were observed during a dental examination one to two weeks following treatment. Results indicate the coping condition was more effective than placebo in reducing self-report anxiety and in effecting a change of locus of control toward greater internality. Internal subjects exhibited a greater reduction in physiological arousal than did Externals, while External subjects changed their locus of control to a greater extent than did Internal subje..