Journal List > J Korean Acad Oral Health > v.41(4) > 1057753

Shin, Hong, Kim, and Chang: Effect of social support and self-esteem on the oral health behaviors of Korean elderly people

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.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that social support and self-esteem might be major predictors of oral health behaviors. These results suggest that psychosocial factors need to be taken into account in the oral health education provided for elderly people.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Composition of oral health behaviors scale and distribution by item

jkaoh-41-282-i001

*≥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

*t-test, ANOVA, a, b, c: There is no significant difference among the groups with same alphabet letter, Oral health behaviors: Modified STEPS questionnaire 17), Social support: MSPSS scale19), Self-esteem: Rosenberg scale20).

Table 3

Oral health behaviors, social support and self-esteem according to health-related characteristics

jkaoh-41-282-i003

*t-test, ANOVA, §Recommended level: 150 min/week15), a, b, c: There is no significant difference among the groups with same alphabet letter, Oral health behaviors: Modified STEPS questionnaire17), Social support: MSPSS scale19), Self-esteem: Rosenberg scale20).

Table 4

Relationships between social support, self-esteem and oral health behaviors

jkaoh-41-282-i004

Pearson's correlation, **P<.01, *P<.05.

Table 5

Multiple regression analysis on factors affecting oral health behaviors

jkaoh-41-282-i005

R2=.309, Adjusted R2=.279 (stepwise).

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