Table 3 Binary Logistic Regression models identifying predictors of frequent use of social media and Moderate/Severe Anxiety group

Predictors of frequent use of social media

Age

  ≤ 30

− 0.392

0.685

0.567

0.676

0.176

2.589

 31–40

0.027

0.424

0.950

1.027

0.448

2.356

  > 40

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

Level of qualification

 Undergraduate

0.498

0.343

0.146

1.646

0.840

3.223

 Postgraduate

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

Experience in dental practice

 1–5

0.934

0.686

0.173

2.545

0.663

9.766

 6–15

0.376

0.435

0.388

1.457

0.621

3.421

  > 15

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

Dental professional

 Dentist

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 Dental specialist

0.354

0.352

0.314

1.425

0.715

2.840

 Dental auxiliary^a

0.302

0.388

0.437

1.353

0.632

2.896

Anxiety group

 Minimal

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 Mild

0.451

0.265

0.088

1.570

0.935

2.637

 Moderate/Severe

0.836

0.295

0.005

2.307

1.295

4.110

− 2LogLikelihood = 459.361 χ² (df = 9) = 19.954 p value = 0.018

Predictors of moderate/severe anxiety group

Age

  ≤ 30

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 31–40

− 0.050

0.534

0.926

0.951

0.334

2.709

  > 40

0.339

0.675

0.615

1.404

0.374

5.266

Sex

 Male

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 Female

0.696

0.282

0.014

2.005

1.153

3.486

Experience in dental practice

 1–5

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 6–15

0.587

0.530

0.268

1.798

0.637

5.076

  > 15

− 0.101

0.687

0.883

0.904

0.235

3.476

Dental professional

 Dentist

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 Dental specialist

− 0.019

0.289

0.948

0.981

0.557

1.727

 Dental auxiliary

0.545

0.326

0.095

1.724

0.910

3.267

Use of social media

 Infrequently

–

–

–

1 (Reference)

–

–

 Frequently

0.562

0.262

0.032

1.754

1.049

2.932

− 2LogLikelihood = 450.102 χ² (df = 8) = 25.303 p value = 0.001