Major of Oral Health Sciences, Department of Health Development, School of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama, Japan.
Cosmo21 Dental Clinic, Toyama, Japan.
Int J Dent Hyg. 2022 Aug;20(3):553-563. doi: 10.1111/idh.12506. Epub 2021 Apr 28.
Studies have examined the association between personality and health behaviour, but research focusing exclusively on regular dental visits has yet to be conducted. This study examined the association between personality traits and regular dental visits among Japanese community-dwelling older adults.
The participants in this cross-sectional study included 1,057 community-dwelling older adults aged 65-74 years from Ranzan and Yoshimi towns; data were collected from October to November 2015 and October to November 2016, respectively. Interviews were conducted to obtain sociodemographic, income, occupation and medical data. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence was used to assess higher-level competence; general intelligence was also evaluated. The 'Big Five' personality traits-openness to experience, consciousness, neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness-were also examined. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between regular dental visits and personality traits.
Among men, the number of natural teeth, current employment status and conscientiousness were associated with dental care utilization. Among women, the number of natural teeth, current annual income, the intellectual activity domain of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence and openness were significant.
The factors associated with regular dental visits differed by gender. Overall, work was associated with men's visits, whereas intellectual activity and economic factors were relevant to women. Factors such as personality traits should be considered when addressing barriers to oral health. Understanding personality traits will help practitioners more effectively encourage older adults to make dental visits.
已有研究探讨了人格与健康行为之间的关系，但专门针对定期看牙的研究尚未开展。本研究旨在检验日本社区居住的老年人群体中人格特质与定期看牙之间的关系。
本横断面研究的参与者为来自浪江町和吉见町的 1057 名 65-74 岁的社区居住老年人；数据分别于 2015 年 10 月至 11 月和 2016 年 10 月至 11 月收集。访谈用于获取社会人口统计学、收入、职业和医疗数据。采用东京都老年医学研究所综合能力指数评估高级能力；还评估了一般智力。同时还评估了“大五”人格特质（开放性、意识、神经质、外向性和宜人性）。采用多变量逻辑回归分析检验定期看牙与人格特质之间的关系。
在男性中，自然牙数量、当前就业状况和尽责性与口腔保健利用有关。在女性中，自然牙数量、当前年收入、东京都老年医学研究所综合能力指数的智力活动领域和开放性与看牙有关。
定期看牙的相关因素因性别而异。总体而言，工作与男性的看牙行为有关，而智力活动和经济因素与女性有关。在解决口腔健康障碍时，应考虑人格特质等因素。了解人格特质将有助于从业人员更有效地鼓励老年人定期看牙。
