The Big Five personality traits and regularity of lifetime dental visit attendance: evidence of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

Ghazal Aarabi,Elzbieta Buczak-Stec,Kristin Spinler,André Hajek,Carolin Walther,Hans-Helmut König,Kübra Bunte

doi:10.1007/s40520-021-02051-2

Abstract

BackgroundRegular dental visits are essential for the prevention, early detection and treatment of worldwide highly prevalent oral diseases. Personality traits were previously associated with treatment compliance, medication adherence and regular doctor visits, however, the link between personality traits and regular dental visit attendance remains largely unexplored. Thus, the objective of this study is to clarify this link.MethodsData (wave 7) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were used, focusing on Germany (n = 2822). Personality was assessed using the 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). Regular dental visits were assessed. Multiple logistic regressions were used, adjusting for various covariates.ResultsMajority of the participants (84%) reported to attend regular dental visits during lifetime. Regularity of lifetime dental visit attendance was positively and significantly associated with increased extraversion [OR 1.13, 95% CI (1.01–1.26)], increased conscientiousness [OR 1.26, 95% CI (1.10–1.44)], and increased openness to experience [OR 1.12, 95% CI (1.01–1.26)]. However, there was a lack of association with agreeableness and neuroticism. Moreover, the outcome measure was positively associated with younger age, being female, born in Germany, being married, higher education, being retired (compared to being homemaker), whereas it was not associated with obesity or chronic diseases.ConclusionsIdentification of personality traits that are associated with regular dental visits can support prevention, screening and clinical management of oral diseases. Further research in this field may facilitate the development and increase the incorporation of individualized concepts to enhance patient compliance and attendance, and thus the provision of oral and dental care services.

Highlights

More than half of the global population lacks essential health services [1], including oral health services
Significant differences between these groups were present in age, sex, country of origin, educational level, employment status, chronic conditions, conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness to experience
Men Women Country of origin Not born in country of interview Born in country of interview Marital status Married, living separated from spouse; never married; divorced; widowed Married and living together with spouse; registered partnership Education Primary education Secondary education Tertiary education Employment status Retired Employed/self-employed Unemployed Permanently sick or disabled Homemaker Other Weight category Non-obese Obese Chronic conditions Agreeableness Conscientiousness Extraversion Neuroticism Openness to experience

Summary

Introduction

More than half of the global population lacks essential health services [1], including oral health services. Need of appropriate oral health services is a significant matter, since 3.58 billion people of the global population were affected by oral diseases as of 2016, which include untreated dental caries, severe periodontitis and oral cancer [2]. Regular dental visits are essential for the prevention, early detection and treatment of worldwide highly prevalent oral diseases. Conclusions Identification of personality traits that are associated with regular dental visits can support prevention, screening and clinical management of oral diseases. Further research in this field may facilitate the development and increase the incorporation of individualized concepts to enhance patient compliance and attendance, and the provision of oral and dental care services

Objectives

Methods

Results