Interaction between psychological characteristics and family situations on child-oral hygienic behavior of mothers of preschool children

Abstract

Major objective of this study was to find interaction between psychological characteristics and family situations on child - oral hygienic behavior of mothers of preschool children. This was a correlational-comparative study based on the interactionism model of behavior analysis. In this study 843 mothers were asked to respond to questionnaires and 843 (5 years old) children were examined the oral health status. T- test, Three-way, two-way and also one-way Analysis of Variance were performed on the total sample as well as the subsamples identified by biosocial and background characteristics of mothers. Furthermore, the Stepwise Multiple Regression Analyses were carried out as well. Two important findings were: Firstly, mothers whose children had poorer dental health were 1) Mothers who had low income and did not have occupation. 2) Mothers who had lower child-oral-hygienic behavior. Secondly, the health behavior model (K-A-P) was necessary but inadequate for dental health care behavior of these mothers. Belief in internal locus of control concerning health should be added. Therefore, it can be recommended that low income, non- working and less knowledgeable mothers should be trained and an evaluation study should be carried out.