Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to determine the oral health behaviors and the relationships between social support, self-esteem, and oral health behaviors.
Methods
The institutions were selected based on the “2016 Elderly Welfare Facilities Status.” A total of 195 people participated in interviews conducted using a 39-item questionnaire. It included information on the following topics: a) sociodemographic and health-related characteristics (11 items), b) oral health behaviors (6), c) social support (12), and d) self-esteem (10). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, a reliability test, a t-test, an ANOVA, a Pearson's correlation test, and a stepwise multiple regression, conducted using the SPSS 23.0 program.
Results
Of the 195 participants, 165 (84.6%) brushed their teeth twice a day; however only 74 (38.0%) participants used oral care products. Although many (64.6%) elderly people visited a dentist at least once a year, only a few (24.6%) visited the dentist for preventive purposes. Oral health behaviors had a positive correlation with self-esteem, significant others' support, and friends'support (.337, .270, and .254, respectively; P<.01). According to the multiple regression analysis, self-esteem, significant others' support, perceived health status, number of existing permanent teeth, friends' support, degree of exercise, gender, and average monthly expenditure had a significant effect on the participants' oral health behaviors.
Figures and Tables
Table 1
Composition of oral health behaviors scale and distribution by item
![jkaoh-41-282-i001](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0197jkaoh/jkaoh-41-282-i001.jpg)
*≥8 Cups: Excessive drinking, ≤7 Cups: Moderate drinking15).
Table 2
Oral health behaviors, social support and self-esteem according to sociodemographic characteristics
![jkaoh-41-282-i002](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0197jkaoh/jkaoh-41-282-i002.jpg)
Table 3
Oral health behaviors, social support and self-esteem according to health-related characteristics
![jkaoh-41-282-i003](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0197jkaoh/jkaoh-41-282-i003.jpg)
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