## 3 Results
### Descriptive Analyses and Study of Covariates
Thus, the following indicators were observed at low levels (B = 1.42; SE = 0.24; \(t\) = 5.89, \(p\) < 0.001; [95%CI = 0.945/1.91]), medium levels (B = 1.04; SE = 0.18; \(t\) = 5.82, \(p\) < 0.001, [95%CI = 0.609/1.40]) and high (B = 0.67; SE = 0.26; \(t\) = 2.58; \(p\) = 0.011; [95%CI = 0.154/1.18]). The moderated mediation index for subjective avoidance was calculated through [PERSON] algorithm. This procedure yielded an estimate of \(\beta\)= \(-\)0.02 [95% CI = \(-\)0.04/0.002]. Table 2 and Figure 2 show these results, pointing out that the value of the connection between pain anticipation and dental anxiety was diminished when PA was higher. In the model as a whole, the indirect effect of pain anticipation on subjective avoidance via dental anxiety was higher in patients with lower PA. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \multicolumn{5}{c}{**Moderation of Positive Affect on Dental Anxiety**} \\ \hline
**VD: Dental Anxiety** & **B (SE)** & \(t\) & \(p\) & **[LLCI-ULCI]** \\ \hline VI: Pain anticipation (Pain) & 1.05 (0.179) & 5.88 & \textless{}0.001 & [0.70/1.41] \\ \hline M: Positive affect (PA) & \(-\)0.17 (0.08) & \(-\)1.97 & 0.051 & [\(-\)0.33/\(<\)0.001] \\ \hline Pain \(\times\) PA (interaction) & \(-\)0.08 (0.03) & \(-\)2.17 & 0.032 & [\(-\)0.14/\(-\)0.006] \\ \hline \multicolumn{5}{l}{* previous medication (covariate)} & 0.48 (0.94) & 0.512 & 0.609 & [\(-\)1.38/2.34] \\ \hline \multicolumn{5}{l}{Conditional effects of the predictor (i.e., pain anticipation) at different values of the moderator (PA)} \\ \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Moderate mediation model. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{5}{c}{**Moderation of Positive Affect on Dental Anxiety**} \\ \hline
**VD: Dental Anxiety** & **B (SE)** & \(t\) & \(p\) & [LLCI-ULCI] \\ \hline \(-4.87\) & \(1.42\) (0.24) & \(5.89\) & \(<\)0.001 & [0.945/1.91] \\ \hline \(0.13\) & \(1.04\) (0.18) & \(5.82\) & \(<\)0.001 & [0.609/1.40] \\ \hline \(5.13\) & \(0.67\) (0.26) & \(2.58\) & \(0.011\) & [0.154/1.18] \\ \hline \multicolumn{5}{c}{Regression of pain anticipation on subjective avoidance through dental anxiety} \\ \hline VD: Subjective avoidance & B (SE) & \(t\) & \(p\) & [LLCI-ULCI] \\ \hline VI: Pain anticipation & \(0.33\) (0.17) & \(1.92\) & \(0.057\) & [\(-0.01\)/0.67] \\ \hline Me: Dental anxiety & \(0.21\) (0.08) & \(2.50\) & \(0.013\) & [0.04/0.37] \\ \hline \multicolumn{5}{c}{* previous medication (covariate)} & \(-0.09\) (0.75) & \(-0.12\) & \(0.907\) & [\(-1.58\)/1.40] \\ \hline \multicolumn{5}{c}{Model summary} & \(\mathrm{R}^{2}\): \(0.21\) & \(p<0.001\) & \\ \hline Indirect effects at values * of PA & & & \\ \hline \(-4.87\) & \(0.29\) (0.12) & & [0.05/0.55] \\ \hline \(0.13\) & \(0.21\) (0.09) & & [0.04/0.42] \\ \hline \(5.13\) & \(0.13\) (0.09) & & [\(<\)0.001/0.36] \\ \hline Indexes of moderated mediation & \(-0.02\) (0.01) & & [\(-0.04\)/0.002] \\ \hline \multicolumn{5}{c}{Effect 1 minus Effect 2. Conditional indirect effects contrast} \\ \hline Effect 1 & Effect 2 & contrast & [LLCI/ULCI] \\ \hline \(0.216\) & \(0.294\) & \(-0.078\) & [\(-0.189\)/0.008] \\ \(0.138\) & \(0.294\) & \(-0.156\) & [\(-0.379\)/0.016] \\ \(0.138\) & \(0.216\) & \(-0.078\) & [\(-0.189\)/0.008] \\ \hline \end{tabular} All continuous variables were centred. Abbreviations: BootLLCI, bootstrapping lower limit confidence interval; BootULCI, bootstrapping upper limit confidence interval; SE, standard error. Model 7 from Process, * covariate.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: _Cont._  
Figure 2: Pain anticipation on dental anxiety at different levels of positive affect.