Is it an association between body appreciation, self-criticism, oral health status and oral health-related behaviors?
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to investigate whether body appreciation and self-criticism are associated with self-reported oral health status and oral-health-related behaviors were associated.


METHODS
The present study sample consisted of 178 first year medical students. The questionnaire included information about socio-demographic factors, behavioral variables, self-reported oral health status, self-criticism and body appreciation.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found on body appreciation and self-criticism scales according to several variables: gender, anxiety, stress, depression, smoking status, perceived dental health status, current extracted teeth, satisfaction by appearance of own teeth, self-reported gingival condition. When oral health behaviours were analysed we observed that toothbrushing frequency once a day or less was reported mainly in persons with low-levels of body appreciation (P < 0.01) and comparative self-criticism (P < 0.05). Moreover, individuals who visit their dentist mainly when treatment is needed or when in pain were compared with persons who visit their dentist mainly for check-up or for tooth cleaning and scaling; they showed lower levels of body appreciation (P = 0.005), as well as higher levels of comparative self-criticism (P < 0.05), internalized self-criticism (P < 0.05) and total self-criticism (P = 0.009). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that anxiety in everyday life, body appreciation and comparative self-criticism scales were significantly positively associated with oral health status (r2 = 0.144; F = 3.436, P = 0.001), while body appreciation was related also to gingival health-related status (r2 = 0.087; F = 1.943, P = 0.057). When oral health behaviors were evaluated, it was shown that gender and body appreciation scale were positively associated with toothbrushing frequency (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that there is an increased risk for impaired dental health status and behaviour among subjects with low levels of body appreciation and high levels of self-criticism.
Dumitrescu
Alexandrina L
AL
Department of Periodontology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Dental Medicine. alexandrina_1_dumitrescu@yahoo.co.uk
Zetu
L
L
Teslaru
Silvia
S
Dogaru
Beatrice C
BC
Dogaru
C D
CD
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data