164 - Parental Temperament/Character and Approval of Aversive Behavior Guidance Techniques, Nguyen KK, Meyer CSA, Sim MS, Law CS, (University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify associations between parental temperament/character and preferences for BGTs. We hypothesize that parents who score high in harm avoidance and self-transcendence or low in self-directedness are more likely to be disapproving of aversive behavior guidance techniques such as protective stabilization and voice control.

Methods: Recruited participants were English- or Spanish-speaking parents of patients of record from UCLA School of Dentistry affiliated clinics. Inclusion criteria were: child’s age (3-8 years of age) and medical history (ASA I). Participants completed a questionnaire recording demographics, approval ratings of different behavior guidance techniques, and a validated temperament/character assessment (TCI-R). Participants were divided into 2 groups for each of the 3 studied temperament/character profiles from the TCI-R (Harm Avoidance, Self-transcendence, and Self-directedness): 1) high ( >85^th percentile) and 2) low ( < 15^th percentile). Participant approval ratings for aversive BGTs (protective stabilization and voice control) were compared using a 2-sided 2-sample unequal variance t-test.

Results: Preliminary data indicate no statistically significant differences between the >85^th percentile group and the < 85^th percentile group for approval of protective stabilization or voice control for either the Harm Avoidance, Self-transcendence, or Self-directedness profiles. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences observed between the >15^th percentile group and the < 15^th percentile group for the same three temperament/character profiles.

Conclusions: The current preliminary conclusion suggests that there is no influence of parental Harm Avoidance, Self-transcendence, or Self-directedness on approval of aversive behavior guidance techniques. Factors other than temperament/character must be considered.