Perceived social support and discrimination and oral health behaviors in adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine the associations between perceived social support and oral health behaviors among adolescents and if this perception had a protective effect against the influence of perceived racial discrimination on oral health behaviors in this population. Material and methods: Participants of this cross-sectional study were adolescents aged 12–18 years recruited from University dental clinic. They completed a questionnaire comprising three sections: demographics (14 items), oral health behaviors (6 items), and validated Personal Resource Questionnaire (25 items). Perceived discrimination was evaluated by a question asking if the adolescent had ever experienced discrimination based on their race. Results: Of 252 participants, mean (SD) age of 14 (1.8) years, 60% were girls, 56% were self-identified as White, and 81% were born in Canada. Discrimination was reported by 21%. Frequency of toothbrushing and self-rated oral health were significantly associated with increased levels of perceived social support. Sugar consumption was significantly different for participants with and without perceived racial discrimination (p-value = 0.002). Perceived social support did not act as a buffer against perceived racial discrimination for sugar consumption (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.98–1.01). Conclusions: Adolescents' perceived social support affected some aspects of their oral health but did not moderate the influence of perceived racial discrimination.