Factors influencing adolescents' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)

Background OHRQoL comprises an apparently complex array of biological and psychological aspects of oral health. Aim To determine the relative contribution of sociodemographic, psychosocial, or clinical characteristics to OHRQoL in adolescents. Design A cross-sectional study of Dunedin adolescents was carried out. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination. Information collected included sociodemographic characteristics (sex, ethnicity, and household deprivation), psychosocial characteristics (self-esteem, psychological well-being, somatisation, and self-perception scores for body image), and clinical measures (DMFS and Dental Aesthetic Index). OHRQoL was measured using the 16-item impact short-form CPQ11–14 questionnaire. Linear regression analyses used the CPQ11–14 as the dependent variable, with independent variables entered in related groups. Results Three hundred and fifty-three children (48.4% females) took part, representing a 58.8% response rate. Linear regression modelling of the CPQ11–14 score showed that sociodemographic characteristics were predictors, but the model's overall explanatory power was low (R2 = 0.05). This increased slightly with inclusion of the clinical variables. When the psychosocial variables were added, however, the R2 increased to 0.50; all psychosocial variables (except self-esteem) were strongly associated with the CPQ11–14 score. Psychological well-being was the strongest predictor. Conclusion Psychosocial characteristics are important contributors to OHRQoL in adolescents and appear to be more important than sociodemographic or clinical characteristics.