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Personality and oral health.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Thomson, WM; Caspi, A; Poulton, R; Moffitt, TE; Broadbent, JM
Published in: European journal of oral sciences
October 2011

We investigated age-26 personality characteristics and age-32 oral health in a prospective study of a complete birth cohort born in Dunedin, New Zealand. Personality was measured using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ). Oral health was measured using the short-form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), a global measure, and dental examinations. Personality profiles were constructed for 916 individuals (50.8% men) using standardized MPQ scores, and multivariate analyses examined their association with oral health. Those reporting 1+ OHIP-14 impacts had higher Negative Emotionality scores (and lower Constraint and Positive Emotionality MPQ superfactor scores) than those who did not. After controlling for gender, clinical status, and the other two MPQ superfactors, those scoring higher on Negative Emotionality had a greater risk of reporting 1+ OHIP-14 impacts, as well as 3+ OHIP-14 impacts and worse-than-average oral health. They also had a greater risk of having lost at least one tooth from caries and of having 3+ decayed surfaces. Personality characteristics appear to shape self-reports of oral health. Personality is also a risk factor for clinical disease status, at least with respect to dental caries and its sequelae. Because the attitudes and values tapped into by personality tests can be altered by brief cognitive interventions, those might be useful in preventive dentistry.

Duke Scholars

Published In

European journal of oral sciences

DOI

EISSN

1600-0722

ISSN

0909-8836

Publication Date

October 2011

Volume

119

Issue

5

Start / End Page

366 / 372

Related Subject Headings

  • Temperament
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Environment
  • Social Desirability
  • Social Alienation
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Report
  • Quality of Life
  • Prospective Studies
  • Personality
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Thomson, W. M., Caspi, A., Poulton, R., Moffitt, T. E., & Broadbent, J. M. (2011). Personality and oral health. European Journal of Oral Sciences, 119(5), 366–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0722.2011.00840.x
Thomson, W Murray, Avshalom Caspi, Richie Poulton, Terrie E. Moffitt, and Jonathan M. Broadbent. “Personality and oral health.European Journal of Oral Sciences 119, no. 5 (October 2011): 366–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0722.2011.00840.x.
Thomson WM, Caspi A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE, Broadbent JM. Personality and oral health. European journal of oral sciences. 2011 Oct;119(5):366–72.
Thomson, W. Murray, et al. “Personality and oral health.European Journal of Oral Sciences, vol. 119, no. 5, Oct. 2011, pp. 366–72. Epmc, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0722.2011.00840.x.
Thomson WM, Caspi A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE, Broadbent JM. Personality and oral health. European journal of oral sciences. 2011 Oct;119(5):366–372.
Journal cover image

Published In

European journal of oral sciences

DOI

EISSN

1600-0722

ISSN

0909-8836

Publication Date

October 2011

Volume

119

Issue

5

Start / End Page

366 / 372

Related Subject Headings

  • Temperament
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Environment
  • Social Desirability
  • Social Alienation
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Report
  • Quality of Life
  • Prospective Studies
  • Personality