Family Influences on Adolescent's Oral Health Behaviour and Sugar Consumption

• Published in: Revista de cercetare si interventie sociala 2013-06, Vol.41, p.60-76
• Main Authors: MURARIU, Alice, HANGANU, Stela Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Attitudes; Child Development; Consumption; Dental insurance; Drinking Behavior; Europe; Health; Health behavior; High School Students; Secondary schools; Smoking; Teenagers; Values
• ISSN: 1583-3410; 1584-5397

This research had two objectives: the evaluation of teenagers' attitudes in relation with the risk factors for oral health, and the analysis of the parental model in the development of children's unhealthy behaviours. The study was developed in 2012 in two high schools having a different profile, namely general and medical profile, by using a special questionnaire elaborated by the World Health Organization. The research results demonstrate the existence of an exaggerated consumption of refined sweets and carbonated drinks with values that situate Romania above many European countries. The negative image is completed by the high prevalence of alcohol consumption and the scarce percentage of teenagers who resort to a correct dental brushing. For certain risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption and refined sweets) we did not notice significantly statistic differences between the students of the two high schools what suggests that the decision to have an unhealthy life style is not influenced by the information offered by teachers. That is why, we tried to analyse the influence of the family in modeling teenagers' behaviour. For this purpose, the logistic regression model used showed that there is a higher risk for a youngster coming from a family of smokers, who drink alcohol and eat refined sweets in excess, thus having a precarious oral hygiene and a low educational level, to develop themselves the same behaviours. As a conclusion, it is necessary for the public health specialists, trainers and politicians to adopt a joint strategy regarding the oral health.