Self-perceived oral health in adolescents associated with family characteristics and parental employment status.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate self-perceived oral health and its associations with family characteristics and parental employment status in an adolescent population from a gender perspective.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using self-reported questionnaires answered anonymously in classrooms.


METHODS
All senior (13-15 years) and upper secondary (16-18 years) level schools in Skaraborg County, Sweden.


METHODS
17,035 students, participation rate 88.5%.


METHODS
A single-item rating of self-perceived oral health; satisfaction with the appearance of the teeth; self-assessed gingival bleeding; a perceived oral health index.


RESULTS
Independent of family characteristics and parental employment status, girls, more often than boys, perceived their oral health to be good and had less self-assessed gingival bleeding but were less satisfied with the appearance of their teeth. Adolescents living with a single mother (senior level odds ratios OR 0.71 [Confidence Interval CI 0.59,0.84], upper secondary level OR 0.76 [CI 0.62,0.92]) or with neither parent were less likely to perceive their oral health as good when single-item rated and reported more gingival bleeding (living with a single mother: senior level OR 1.37 [CI 1.20.1.57], upper secondary level OR 1.51 [CI 1.28,1.77]) than those who lived with both parents, while adolescents who lived with a single father did not. Associations between parental employment status and self-perceived oral health were weak and inconsistent.


CONCLUSIONS
Family characteristics were important for adolescents' self-perceived oral health while parental employment status was not. Children living in single-parent households should be supported and recognised in strategies for oral health promotion and prevention. Gender differences should also be taken into consideration.
Ostberg
A L
AL
Public Dental Services, Skövde, Sweden. anna-lena.ostberg@vgregion.se
Lindblad
U
U
Halling
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D020954:Single-Parent Family; D013548:Sweden