Self-perceived oral health and happiness: a cross-sectional study in a cohort of university students

• Published in: Brazilian journal of oral sciences 2024-09, Vol.23, p.e249979
• Main Authors: Cademartori, Mariana Gonzalez, Karam, Sarah Arangurem, Chisini, Luiz Alexandre, Collares, Kauê Farias, Azevedo, Marina Sousa, Demarco, Flávio Fernando, Correa, Marcos Britto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1677-3225; 1677-3225
• DOI: 10.20396/bjos.v23i00.8669979

In recent years, studies investigating psychological states such as happiness in individuals’ health have increased. Aim: This study investigated a possible association between self-perceived oral health and happiness in university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a cohort of university students who entered in the 2016 academic year at the Federal University of Pelotas, located in southern Brazil. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, including demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, psychosocial traits, and oral health-related questions. Happiness was measured through a question accompanied by the Faces Scale of Andrews and Whitey. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to assess the association between the exposure variables (oral health measures) and the outcome (happiness). Results: The prevalence of happiness was 48.6%. A significant association between happiness and oral health, including satisfaction with dental appearance (PR 1.86; 95% CI 1.73-2.01), oral health-related to quality of life (PR 1.19; 95% CI 1.09-1.31), and halitosis (PR 1.10; 95% CI 1.01-1.20), was found. Conclusion: Individuals who reported dissatisfaction with dental appearance, an impact on oral health-related to quality of life, and halitosis perceived themselves as unhappy.