Investigating the relationship between self-reported oral health status, oral health-related behaviors, type A behavior pattern, perceived stress and emotional intelligence.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine students' self-rated oral health and oral-health-related behaviors in relation to type A behavior pattern (TABP), self-perceived stress (PSS) and emotional intelligence (EI).


METHODS
The present study sample consisted of 344 first to sixth year dental students. The questionnaire included information about socio-demographic factors, behavioral variables, self-reported oral health status, TABP, PSS and EI.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found on EI and PSS Scale according to several variables: gender, year of study, anxiety in the every day life, perceived dental health, self-reported gingival condition, self-reported gum bleeding and reason for the dental visit (P<0.05). Oral health behaviors such as flossing and mouthrinse frequency and last dental visit were not influenced by TABP, EI or PSS-10 scales. However, the results showed that mean levels of TABP in individuals with a toothbrushing frequency more than twice a day were higher than, but not statistically different from, those of individuals brushing less than once a day. The scales are inter-correlated, as was replicated there: TABP with EI, EI with PSS, anxiety with PSS (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The result suggested that emotional intelligence might be a psychosocial risk marker that influences self-reported oral health status and behaviour.
Dumitrescu
Alexandrina L
AL
Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. alexandrina_l_dumitrescu@yahoo.co.uk
D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014434:Type A Personality