Table 1 Age of patients compared to dental anxiety categories (DAS) and psychological distress (BSI-18)

Dental anxiety

Total sample (N, %)

< 46 years (N, %)

≥ 46 years (N, %)

Chi2-test

Low anxiety

1072 (70)

517 (69)

555 (71)

χ2 (2, N = 1527) = 0.95,

p = 0.62,

v = 0.457

Moderate anxiety

379 (25)

191 (26)

188 (24)

High anxiety

76 (5)

40 (5)

36 (5)

Psychological distress

Total sample (M, SD)

< 46 years (M, SD)

≥ 46 years (M, SD)

t-test

Somatization

1.94 (2.90)

1.93 (2.76)

1.95 (3.03)

t(1425) = −0.16,

p = 0.874),

d = − 0.008

Depression

1.88 (3.35)

2.33 (3.45)

1.43 (3.17)

t(1423) = 5.16,

p < 0.0001,

d = 0.274

Anxiety

2.78 (3.53)

3.20 (3.31)

2.39 (3.70)

t(1425) = 4.31,

p < 0.0001,

d = 0.228

GSI

6.59 (8.21)

7.44 (7.91)

5.76 (8.38)

t(1426) = 3.89,

p < 0.0001,

d = 0.206