December 2009

Volume 26, Issue 4

Sense of coherence associates with oral and general health behaviours

Authors: J. Savolainen A. Suominen-Taipale A. Uutela A. Aromaa T. Härkänen M. Knuuttila
doi: 10.1922/CDH_2335Savolainen07

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the mutual relationship between oral and general health behaviours and oral and general subjective health among adults, and to explore whether sense of coherence (SOC) could be a common health-promoting correlate for them. Participants: The present study included data for 4,096 30- to 64-year-old dentate adults (2,177 females and 1919 males). Basic research design: In the nationally representative, cross-sectional sample including 8,028 persons aged 30, or more, 88% were surveyed. The questionnaire and home interview included information about socio-economic and demographic factors, behavioural and psycho-social variables. Chisquare test and logistic regression models were used in the data analysis. Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures were oral health behaviours (regular dental attendance, twice a day tooth-brushing frequency), general health behaviours (non-smoking habits, physical activity at least twice a week), subjective oral and general health and the SOC (12-item) scale. Results: Among females, positive health behaviours tended to occur together significantly more often than among males. Thus, 83 % of females with more than once a week physical exercise frequency, and 79 % of the non-smoking females, brushed their teeth at least twice a day, while the corresponding figures for the males were merely 55 % and 50 %. A strong SOC was associated with uniformly positive health behaviours and subjective oral and general health. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a strong SOC has a universal positive association with several health behaviours and subjective health measures, also concerning oral health. Thus, the role of psycho-social factors should not be underestimated in health promotion. Key words: Dental attendance, physical activity, psycho-social, sense of coherence, smoking, subjective health, tooth-brushing

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - Beyond water fluoridation; the emergence of functional foods for oral health 194-195 Download
Book Review 196-196 Download
Sense of coherence associates with oral and general health behaviours 197-203 Download
Evaluation of the direct and diffusion methods for the determination of fluoride content in table salt 204-210 Download
Fluoride toothpaste utilization behaviour among preschool children in Perlis, Malaysia 211-215 Download
Rural Mexican immigrant parents’ interpretation of children’s dental symptoms and decisions to seek treatment 216-221 Download
Assessment of HIV/AIDS awareness among 500 patients referred to the Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry 222-226 Download
Professional charges not reimbursed to dentists in the US: evidence from Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996. 227-233 Download
Quality of life in patients with dental conditions: comparing patients’ and providers’ evaluation 234-238 Download
Understanding politics? Some lessons from Swedish dentistry. 239-243 Download
Factors influencing the need for dental care amongst the elderly in the Republic of Ireland 244-249 Download
The periodontal health of Nepalese schoolchildren 250-256 Download

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