Exploring the relationships between sense of hopelessness, worry, self-rated oral health status, and behavior in a Romanian adult population.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of psychological states, self-rated oral health, and oral health behavior on hopelessness.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was used. Data were collected between September and November 2006. The sample consisted of 233 Romanian adults (mean age 47.3 years; 65.6% women; 65.8% married). The questionnaire included information about demographic, psychological, self-reported oral health, and oral health related behavior items.


RESULTS
'Hopeless' participants were more likely to self-evaluate their dental health as poor/very poor (P<0.001), to be less satisfied by the appearance of their teeth (P<0.05), to report more non-treated caries (P<0.01), to brush their teeth less than twice per day (P<0.01), and never use mouthrinse (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed 'hopeless' participants were apt to have a lower educational level, brush less frequently, have higher financial problems as the reason for not visiting the dentist, and report higher anxiety (odds ratio = 5.4, 4.2, 2.6, and 12.6, respectively). Forty-seven (73.4%) of 64 'hopeless' participants and 90 (80.4%) of 112 'non-hopeless' participants were correctly predicted by the above four variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study found impaired oral health and financial problems may pose an increased risk for hopelessness.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor oral health can be regarded as a risk marker for the level of hopelessness.
Dumitrescu
Alexandrina L
AL
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania. alexandrina_l_dumitrescu@yahoo.co.uk
Kawamura
Makoto
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology; D012383:Romania; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D009067:Mouthwashes