Social, clinical and psychometric factors affecting self-rated oral health, self-rated health and well-being in elders
Abstract Background The study aims to explore the social influences, gradients and predictors of self-rated oral health (SROH) and self-rated health (SRH) and well-being in Greek elders. Methods Cross-sectional study, of elderly men and women, aged 65 years and over (N=743), in two municipalities in Greece. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed for dentate and edentulous participants. For the association between socioeconomic exposures and binary outcomes, logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 5% CI); levels of association and Cramer’s V were applied to calculate associations and p-values. Results Household income, education level and last main occupation were predictors and determinants of both SROH and self-rated health (SRH). All objective socioeconomic measures (income, education and occupation) and subjective social status (SSS) were predictors of SROH and SRH; however, the objective socioeconomic measures were not predictors of satisfaction with life (SWL). SSS was statistically significant for SROH, SRH and SWL, p<0.01. Conclusions Gender, municipality, long-standing illness, SSS and loneliness were predictors of SWL in the examined dentate population. For SROH and SRH, the results showed that household income less than 800 euros per month, education level, occupation and SSS were significant predictors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of subjective and objective socioeconomic measures and find inequalities in both oral and general health and in the gradient of SROH among elderly adults in Greece.