A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Confirming the factor structure of modified CFSS-DS in Finnish children at different ages
Authors: Rantavuori K, Tolvanen M, Lahti S
Publisher: INFORMA HEALTHCARE
Publication year: 2012
Journal: Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
Journal name in source: ACTA ODONTOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
Journal acronym: ACTA ODONTOL SCAND
Number in series: 5
Volume: 70
Issue: 5
First page : 421
Last page: 425
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 0001-6357
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/00016357.2011.634831
Abstract
Objective. The aims were to determine whether means of different fear-related items were similar in 1998 and 2001 and to find a common factor structure of the modified CFSS-DS for children at different ages. Materials and methods: Independent random samples of 6-, 9-, 12- and 15-year olds were drawn in two cities in 1998 and 2001 (n = 180 per age group from each city). The study group in 2001 comprised 282, 265, 281 and 234 subjects aged 6, 9, 12 and 15 years, respectively. Each child received a modified CFSS-DS form to be filled out at home. Mean scores of different fear-related items were reported for each age group for both data sets. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed to test whether the three factor structures revealed for 6-, 9- and 12-15-year olds in 1998 fitted the 2001 data. Multiple group CFA was used to test for the equivalence of the factorial structure across age groups (configural invariance). Results. The age-specific patterns of the means for individual fear-related items in 2001 corresponded to the mean values for 1998. When age-specific factor structures were tested separately for each age group, the factor structure for 9-year-olds was, in general, the best-fitting overall structure. The factor structure had a good fit for all age groups, but the loadings differed at different ages. Conclusions. The modified CFSS-DS provides consistent factor structures for children at different ages and reflects the changes in manifestations of dental fear during growth.
Objective. The aims were to determine whether means of different fear-related items were similar in 1998 and 2001 and to find a common factor structure of the modified CFSS-DS for children at different ages. Materials and methods: Independent random samples of 6-, 9-, 12- and 15-year olds were drawn in two cities in 1998 and 2001 (n = 180 per age group from each city). The study group in 2001 comprised 282, 265, 281 and 234 subjects aged 6, 9, 12 and 15 years, respectively. Each child received a modified CFSS-DS form to be filled out at home. Mean scores of different fear-related items were reported for each age group for both data sets. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed to test whether the three factor structures revealed for 6-, 9- and 12-15-year olds in 1998 fitted the 2001 data. Multiple group CFA was used to test for the equivalence of the factorial structure across age groups (configural invariance). Results. The age-specific patterns of the means for individual fear-related items in 2001 corresponded to the mean values for 1998. When age-specific factor structures were tested separately for each age group, the factor structure for 9-year-olds was, in general, the best-fitting overall structure. The factor structure had a good fit for all age groups, but the loadings differed at different ages. Conclusions. The modified CFSS-DS provides consistent factor structures for children at different ages and reflects the changes in manifestations of dental fear during growth.
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