Is the association between social support and oral health modified by household income? Findings from a national study of adults in Australia

ObjectivesSocioeconomic inequalities in oral health are often neglected in oral health promotion. This cross-sectional study assessed the association between dental caries and socioeconomic status (SES) among preschool children in China.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey of China (2015), comprising of 40 360 children aged 3–5 years was used.MethodsDental caries indicators including prevalence of dental caries, dental pain experience and number of decayed, missing and filling teeth (dmft). SES indicators included parental education and household income. The associations between SES and dental caries were analysed by using negative binomial regression or Poisson regression models according to data distribution. Relative and absolute inequalities in dental caries were quantified by using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and Slope Index of Inequality (SII), respectively.ResultsThere were significant associations between SES and prevalence of dental caries and dmft (p<0.001). Children from lower educated (RII 1.36, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.43; SII 0.97, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.13) and lower household income (RII 1.17, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.24; SII 0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.75) families had higher dmft than those from well-educated and most affluent families. Relative and absolute inequalities in dental caries were larger in urban areas by household income, and in rural areas by parental education.ConclusionsAssociation between dental caries and SES was demonstrated and socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries existed among Chinese preschool children.

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Positive and negative social support and depressive symptoms according to economic status among adults in Korea: cross-sectional results from the Health Examinees-Gem Study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. e023036 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hwa-Young Lee ◽

Juhwan Oh ◽

Ichiro Kawachi ◽

Jongho Heo ◽

Sujin Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Depressive Symptom ◽

Symptom Score ◽

Household Income ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Social Supports ◽

Positive Association ◽

Health Examination ◽

Positive Social Support

ObjectivesThe interaction between positive and negative social support as well as each domain of social support and income on depressive symptom has not been much explored. We aimed to examine the associations of positive and negative social support with the risk of depressive symptoms among urban-dwelling adults in Korea, focusing on those interaction effects.DesignWe used the first wave of a large-scale cohort study called The Health Examinees-Gem Study. Positive and negative support scores ranged between 0 and 6; the variables were then categorised into low, medium, and high groups. A two-level random intercept linear regression model was used, where the first level is individual and the second is the community. We further tested for interactions between each domain of social supports and household income.SettingA survey conducted at 38 health examination centres and training hospitals in major Korean cities and metropolitan areas during 2009–2010.Participants21 208 adult men and women aged between 40 and 69 in Korea (mean age: 52.6, SD: 8.0).Outcome measuresDepressive symptoms score measured by Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 60.ResultsLevel of positive and negative social support showed a negative and positive association with depressive symptom score with statistical significance at p<0.05, respectively. When the interaction terms among household income and social supports were examined, a negative association between level of positive social support and depressive symptom score was more pronounced as income was lower and level of negative social support was higher. Similarly, positive association between level of negative social support and depressive symptom score was more pronounced as income was lower and level of positive social support was lower.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that strategies for encouraging positive social support and discouraging negative social support for disadvantaged individuals might be effective in reducing depression in Korea.

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National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18: Study design and methods

Australian Dental Journal ◽

10.1111/adj.12758 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Sergio Chrisopoulos ◽

Anne Ellershaw ◽

Liana Luzzi

Keyword(s):

Oral Health ◽

Study Design ◽

National Study ◽

Design And Methods

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INTEREST GROUP SESSION—ORAL HEALTH: COGNITIVE FUNCTION, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND ORAL HEALTH STATUS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1265 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S349-S349

Author(s):

Bei Wu ◽

Stephen K Shuman ◽

Michele Saunders

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Oral Health ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Health Problems ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Reciprocal Relationship ◽

Control Group ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

The U.S

Abstract There is an increasing awareness of the importance of oral health and its associated risk factors among older adults. This symposium includes four papers that address cognitive function, social support and oral health problems and symptoms among older adults in the U.S. and China. Lu and his colleagues examined the reciprocal relationship between cognitive function and complete tooth loss Chinese adults age 50+ using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal study. The results show that there is a reciprocal relationship between these two indicators. The second paper used the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE) and examined the associations between tooth/gums symptoms and changes in cognitive function in Chinese older immigrants. The results reveal that having teeth symptoms was associated with a decline in cognitive function. Using the same PINE data, the third paper examined the association between different characteristics of social relationships and the number of oral health problems among U.S. older Chinese adults. Wu and her colleagues conducted a partner-assisted pilot intervention to improve oral health for community-dwelling older adults with either mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. The results of this 6-month intervention show that persons in the treatment group had more improvement in oral hygiene than those in the control group. Findings from these four papers illustrate that cognitive function, social support, and oral health are interrelated. This symposium highlights the importance of improving cognitive health, social support, and oral health for middle-aged and older adults.

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PERCEIVED STRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND DRY MOUTH AMONG U.S. OLDER CHINESE ADULTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.119 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S31-S31

Author(s):

Weiyu Mao ◽

Yiwei Chen ◽

Bei Wu ◽

Shaoqing Ge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Oral Health ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Dry Mouth ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Friend Support ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Dry mouth is a common condition among older adults that negatively influences oral health, general health, and quality of life. The role of psychosocial factors in oral health conditions and diseases remains largely unknown. We examined the relationship between perceived stress and dry mouth among US older Chinese adults and further investigated the moderating role of social support from different sources in the relationship. Data came from baseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago between 2011 and 2013 (N = 3,157). Stepwise logistic regression models with interaction terms were used. More perceived stress was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting dry mouth. Friend support was protective against dry mouth. The effect of perceived stress on dry mouth varied by levels of family and friend support. To prevent or reduce dry mouth, interventions need to consider perceived stress and social support in this growing population.

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