title: Socioeconomic inequalities in dental health among middle-aged adults and the role of behavioral and psychosocial factors: evidence from the Spanish National Health Survey.
abstract: The goal of this analysis was to describe socioeconomic inequalities in dental health among Spanish middle-aged adults, and the role of behavioral and psychosocial factors in explaining these inequalities.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study used survey data from the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey and focused on adults ages 30 - 64. The outcome was dental health status based on the presence of self-reported dental problems. We used education, income, and occupational class as indicators of socioeconomic position and applied logistic regression analysis to estimate associations. We included behavioral and psychosocial variables in the models and compared non-adjusted to adjusted estimates to assess their potential role in explaining socioeconomic gradients.
  
  
  
  Results showed clear socioeconomic gradients in dental health among middle-aged adults. The percentage of people who reported more dental problems increased among those with lower levels of education, income, and occupation. These gradients were statistically significant (p < .001). Logistic regression showed that groups with lower education, income, and occupation had higher odds of reporting the outcome (p < .001). Associations were stronger when considering education as the indicator of socioeconomic position. Substantial unexplained associations remained significant after adjusting the model by behavioral and psychosocial variables.
  
  
  
  This study shows significant socioeconomic gradients in dental health among middle-aged adults in Spain. Behavioral and psychosocial variables were insufficient to explain the inequalities described, suggesting the intervention of other factors. Further research should incorporate additional explanations to better understand and comprehensively address socioeconomic inequalities in dental health.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Asuncion, Yegros 1440 casi 2a. pyda., 1330, Asuncion, Paraguay. diegocapurro10@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Diego Alberto
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Capurro
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 2nd floor, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davidsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D009909:Oral Health; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Behavior; Dental health; Disparities; Oral health; Psychosocial factors; Socioeconomic inequalities; Socioeconomic status; Spain