Coping Beliefs Research Articles

Graded chronic pain scale revised: mild, bothersome, and high-impact chronic pain.

Drawing on advances in chronic pain metrics, a simplified Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised was developed to differentiate mild, bothersome, and high-impact chronic pain. Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised was validated among adult enrollees of 2 health plans (N = 2021). In this population, the prevalence of chronic pain (pain present most or every day, prior 3 months) was 40.5%: 15.4% with mild chronic pain (lower pain intensity and interference); 10.1% bothersome chronic pain (moderate to severe pain intensity with lower interference with life activities); and 15.0% high-impact chronic pain (sustained pain-related activity limitations). Persons with mild chronic pain vs those without chronic pain showed small differences on 10 health status indicators (unfavorable health perceptions, activity limitations, and receiving long-term opioid therapy), with nonsignificant differences for 7 of 10 indicators. Persons with bothersome vs mild chronic pain differed significantly on 6 of 10 indicators (eg, negative pain coping beliefs, psychological distress, unfavorable health perceptions, and pain-related interference with overall activities). Persons with high-impact chronic pain differed significantly from those with mild chronic pain on all 10 indicators. Persons with high-impact chronic pain, relative to those with bothersome chronic pain, were more likely to have substantial activity limitations (significant differences for 4 of 5 disability indicators) and more often received long-term opioid therapy. Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised strongly predicted 5 activity-limitation indicators with area under receiver operating characteristic curve coefficients of 0.76 to 0.89. We conclude that the 5-item Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised and its scoring rules provide a brief, simple, and valid method for assessing chronic pain.

Is an oral health coaching programme a way to sustain oral health for elderly people in nursing homes? A feasibility study.

This study examines the feasibility of an oral health coaching programme involving practical support on individual level to staff in a nursing home in Sweden, aiming to improve oral health care-related beliefs of nursing staff and the oral health of residents. This intervention study consisted of three wards from one nursing home, and both staff (n=48) and residents (n=58) were invited. In the control ward, 9 staff and 16 residents participated; in test ward 1, 10 staff and 13 residents participated; and at test ward 2, 14 staff and 17 residents participated. An oral health coaching programme was performed 4h/wk for 3months. The staff completed the nursing Dental Coping Beliefs Scale at baseline and after 9months. Oral health of the residents was assessed using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide and mucosal-plaque score at baseline and after 3, 6 and 9months. At baseline, 33 staff participated and 22 at 9months follow-up. For the residents, the figures were 48 and 32, respectively. After the intervention, the nursing DCBS revealed changes related to usage of fluoride, oral health support, gum disease and approximal cleaning. The most frequently reported oral health problems among the residents pertained to teeth and gums. The residents' relatively high level of oral health was stable during the study period. Despite limitations in the programme, an oral health coaching programme can support nursing staff in maintaining a high level of oral health in residents. The programme was shown feasible, although design improvements are needed.

Collective efficacy and natural hazards: differing roles of social cohesion and task-specific efficacy in shaping risk and coping beliefs

Previous research in non-disaster contexts has shown that the concept of collective efficacy, which is a group’s sense of its ability to achieve a specific objective, assists understanding of community readiness and households’ decisions to take preparedness actions. Collective efficacy expands the concept of social capital, which refers to social resources such as trust, norms and networks, by addressing how likely communities are to activate these resources for specific tasks. This paper empirically investigates the effect of three distinct collective efficacy components on risk perception, fear and self-efficacy regarding natural hazards in Austria. The three components have differing impacts on risk and coping beliefs: (1) Social cohesion decreases risk perception and fear but has no effect on self-efficacy; (2) Efficacy belief in social support increases self-efficacy; (3) Efficacy belief in citizen groups increases risk perception and fear. The combination of efficacy belief in social support and citizen groups seems to be most promising for stimulating protective action, as they together promote both risk and coping appraisal. However, overreliance on social support may have the undesirable effect of creating a false sense of safety among disaster-prone households. The findings demonstrate that collective efficacy provides a meaningful perspective from which to examine risk and coping beliefs but caution against treating it as an umbrella concept, given the differing effects of its components. Future studies are needed to investigate the impact of collective efficacy on other key explanatory factors of protective action, such as response efficacy or non-protective responses.

Effectiveness of oral health education on oral hygiene status among schizophrenic patients: A randomized controlled study.

The study aims to assess the effectiveness of oral health education on oral hygiene status among schizophrenic patients. A randomized parallel controlled trial was conducted among schizophrenic patients (n=111) with BPR score of ≤ 48 to assess the role of oral health education on their oral hygiene status. The experimental group (n=56) received oral health education while the control group (n=55) were administered standard care advice. Reinforcement in the form of printed calendar was done after 1 month followed by final assessment of KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) through DCBS (Dental Coping Beliefs Scale), while oral hygiene through the oral hygiene index done after 2 months. Majority of subjects were males with mean age of 34.73 ± 9.9 years and mean duration of illness of 6.41 ± 5.2 years. All domains of the modified DCBS showed significant improvement in the experimental group. Frequency of brushing twice a day increased from 5.4% to 23.2% (p<0.05) in the experimental group. DI score was 2.28 ± 0.93 versus 2.98 ± 1.3 (p<0.02) in the experimental group as compared to the control group. The oral health education with reinforcement in the form of printed calendar although showed statistically significant changes but lacked clinical importance.

High Risk Sexual Behavior and Reasons for Living in a College Population

Past research has identified adaptive cognitive beliefs to be lacking in individuals who report suicidal ideation. The purpose of this study was to identify whether these adaptive characteristics, particularly survival and coping beliefs, are absent in individuals who participate in high risk sexual behaviors. Participants included 328 individuals. Results indicated that women scored higher than men, non-ideators scored higher than ideators, and participants at high risk for HIV contraction scored lower than those at low risk and moderate risk on the RFL–Survival and Coping Beliefs subscale. No difference was noted between men and women in regards to reported risky sexual behaviors. The study suggests that the lack of adaptive cognitive beliefs may generalize to other life-threatening and maladaptive behaviors.

Wish to die and reasons for living among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: In Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disease severity, ineffective treatment, and increasing dependence on caregivers may give rise to hopelessness and suicidal ideation among patients. In clinical practice, the desire for death among patients with ALS often accompanies the desire to live and fear of death. Thus, we decided to study suicidal ideation among patients with ALS and examine protective factors and reasons for living. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study that recruited patients during routine visits to the outpatient multidisciplinary reference center for ALS. Depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory, suicidal ideation was assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and reasons for living were assessed using the Reasons for Living inventory for adults. Results: Among the 71 patients included, 39% expressed either passive (wish to die) or active suicidal ideation. Patients who expressed suicidal ideation were more likely to report depressive symptoms and have worse disability scores. A significant difference in the survival and coping beliefs subscore of the RFL inventory, which was negatively associated with suicidal ideation, had been found between those who did and did not have suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These findings have stressed the need for caregivers to recognize depression and other distressing expressions as well as provide adequate treatment. Therefore, close attention should be given to those suffering from depression while providing optimal care in terms of not only drug treatment but also psychological support.

Reasons for Living Among U.S. Army Personnel Thinking About Suicide

Reasons for living are associated with reduced suicide risk, but have not received much empirical attention among U.S. military personnel, a population with elevated suicide risk. The present study examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Brief Reasons for Living Inventory (BRFLI) in a clinical sample of 97 treatment-seeking Army personnel with recent suicide ideation and/or a history of suicide attempts. Results supported a five-factor structure for the BRFLI. Each factor had good internal consistency (ω’s > 0.94) and demonstrated convergent and divergent validity. Survival and coping beliefs and responsibility to family subscale scores were negatively correlated with recent suicidal thinking. Responsibility to family subscale scores were associated with significantly reduced risk of suicide attempts during follow-up. BRFLI subscale scores showed little to no clinical responsivity following intervention. Results suggest survival and coping beliefs and responsibility to family may be protective for high-risk military personnel.

“To a better place”: The role of religious belief for staff in residential aged care in coping with resident deaths

IntroductionStaff in residential aged care (RAC) face increasing exposure to death and dying provoking coping-related responses. This study reports on research exploring the role of religious/spiritual belief in staff coping with death and dying in RAC homes. MethodUtilising a mixed methods, concurrent triangulation design, data from interviews and questionnaires with 113 RAC staff were analysed to explore the relationship between staff members’ religious/spiritual beliefs and coping with resident deaths within the context of 50 RAC facilities. ResultsParticipants appeared to have distinctly different experiences of the role of religious/spiritual beliefs in their attitudes toward death and dying – as reflected linguistically in how they described it. Strong religious/spiritual influence and religious affiliation were associated with lower scores for burnout. Level of religious/spiritual influence does make a difference in the strategies employed by staff in coping with death and dying. ConclusionGiven the potential benefits associated with religious/spiritual beliefs, RAC facility management would be well advised to foster a workplace culture that supports and encourages spiritual/religious expression among facility staff. Greater understanding of the role of religious/spiritual beliefs in helping staff to make sense of the end-of-life experience can provide the basis for the development of staff supports enabling both improved staff well-being and resident end-of-life care.

Actividades de tiempo libre y el bienestar espiritual

This research analyzes the factorial structure of the Leisure Coping Belief Scale (LCBS-M) in a simple of 202 adults belonging to the states of Nuevo Leon and Yucatan, Mexico, with an average age of 28 years (DE = 9.57). Its convergent validity was obtained through the Spirituality and Leisure Coping Belief Scales (LCBS-M) about their leisure activities. Both scales, the Spirituality and the LCBS-M, gave evidence of convergent validity. Following an analysis of competition of models, a factorial structure similar to the original model was obtained. This model includes the same three dimensions and 20 items; two items less than the original model. The results revealed that the Mexican adaptation maintained an adequate degree of reliability on a general scale.

Suicidality in High-Risk Psychiatric Patients: The Contribution of Protective Factors

Objective: This study’s objective was determine the incremental association of reasons for living to the lifetime number of suicide attempts in relation to other known risk and protective factors in a sample of psychiatric patients with extensive psychopathology in residential treatment. Methods: Participants (n = 131) completed a demographic questionnaire that also asked for information about lifetime suicide history, psychiatric history, trauma, and abuse history. Additional measures of resilience, reasons for living (RFL), and impulsiveness were completed. Results: A history of sexual abuse was associated with an increasing lifetime number of suicide attempts, while a history of physical abuse and trait impulsiveness were not associated with the lifetime number of suicide attempts. Survival and coping beliefs, a subscale of the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFLI), was found to add incremental predictive validity to the number of lifetime suicide attempts. A composite fear variable, combining fear of suicide and fear of social consequences of suicide, was negatively correlated with lifetime number of attempts but did not add incremental validity to the prediction of lifetime number of suicide attempts. Conclusion: In a sample of participants with significant psychiatric impairment, the protective factor of survival and coping beliefs may be an important barrier to repeated suicide attempts and may be considered a suicide-specific resilience measure. Understanding the psychological processes contributing to the development of such protective factors as resilience, meaning in life, and coping resources is an important area of study and a potential avenue for targeted therapeutic intervention in high-risk populations.

The Reasons for Living Scale-Military Version: Assessing Protective Factors Against Suicide in a Military Sample.

Military suicide rates have been rising over the past decade and continue to challenge military treatment facilities. Assessing suicide risk and improving treatments are a large part of the mission for clinicians who work with uniformed service members. This study attempts to expand the toolkit of military suicide prevention by focusing on protective factors over risk factors. In 1983, Marsha Linehan published a checklist called the Reasons for Living Scale, which asked subjects to check the reasons they choose to continue living, rather than choosing suicide. The authors of this article hypothesized that military service members may have different or additional reasons to live which may relate to their military service. They created a new version of Linehan's inventory by adding protective factors related to military life. The purpose of these additions was to make the inventory more acceptable and relevant to the military population, as well as to identify whether these items constitute a separate subscale as distinguished from previously identified factors. A commonly used assessment tool, the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) designed by Marsha Linehan, was expanded to offer items geared to the military population. The RFL presents users with a list of items which may be reasons to not commit suicide (e.g., "I have a responsibility and commitment to my family"). The authors used focus groups of staff and patients in a military psychiatric partial hospitalization program to identify military-centric reasons to live. This process yielded 20 distinct items which were added to Linehan's original list of 48. This expanded list became the Reasons for Living-Military Version. A sample of 200 patients in the military partial hospitalization program completed the inventory at time of or close to admission. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Walter Reed National Military Center for adhering to ethical principles related to pursuing research with human subjects. The rotated factor matrix revealed six factors that have been labeled as follows: Survival and Coping Beliefs, Military Values, Responsibility to Family, Fear of Suicide/Disability/Unknown, Moral Objections and Child-Related Concerns. The subscale of Military Values is a new factor reflecting the addition of military items to the original RFL. Results suggest that formally assessing protective factors in a military psychiatric population has potential as a useful tool in the prevention of military suicide and therefore warrants further research. The latent factor we have entitled "Military Values" may help identify those service members for whom military training or "esprit de corps" is a reason for living. Further research can focus on further validation, pre/post-treatment effects on scores, expanded clinical use to stimulate increased will to live, or evaluation of whether scores on this scale, or the subscale of Military Values, can predict future suicidal behavior by service members. Finally, a larger sample size may produce more robust results to support these findings.

The Role of Justice Belief in Coping with Threats to Socioeconomic Status through Status Consumption

최근 몇 년 간 한국 사회는 점점 악화되는 취업난, 빈부 차이의 심화 등으로 인해 개인의 사회경제적 지위(SES: socioeconomic status)가 위협받고 이로 인해 불안이 가중되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 사회경제적 지위에 대한 위협이 지위 상징적 소비(status consumption)에 미치는 효과를 고찰하였다. 그 과정에서 본 연구는 특히 사회 시스템의 정당성에 대한 신념과 지각된 불안감의 역할에 주목했다. 사회경제적 지위가 낮다는 위협을 느낄 경우 불안이 유발되는데, ‘사회적 시스템이 정당하다’는 신념이 강조되면 이 불안감은 더욱 증폭될 수 있다. ‘뿌린대로 거둔다(또는 ‘그럴 만해서 그렇다(deservingness)’)라는 ‘인과응보(retribution)’의 관점이 접목되면, 사회경제적으로 낮은 지위를 갖고 있는 사람들이 느끼는 불안이 커지기 때문이다. 그리고 이는 심리적 대응기제로서의 지위 상징적 소비의 증가로 나타날 수 있다. 이 같은 예상은 실증연구에서 증명되었는데, 사회경제적 지위가 낮은(vs. 높은) 그룹은 럭셔리 브랜드에 대한 선택 빈도가 더 높았으며, 과시적으로 소비하려는 경향도 더 크게 나타났다. 그리고 사회경제적 지위에 대한 위협과 지위 상징적 소비에 대한 인과관계는 정당성 신념이 강할수록 더욱 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 한편 지각된 불안감은 사회경제적 지위에 대한 위협과 정당성 신념이 럭셔리 브랜드 선택 및 과시적 소비에 미치는 효과를 매개하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 이러한 결과를 근거로 이론적 및 사회적 시사점을 도출하였는데 특히, 한국사회에의 함의를 (1)정당성 강조에 따른 의도하지 않은 효과와 (2)지위 상징적 소비를 활용한 심리적 대응의 장기적 효과의 두 가지 관점에서 논하였다.

Stress, resilience and leisure coping among university students: applying the broaden-and-build theory

Evidence suggests that leisure coping is affiliated with resilience, and that both predict stress-coping and well-being. However, a theoretical explanation of how resilience is associated with the stress-reducing properties of leisure coping is lacking. Using the broaden-and-build theory, a model was developed proposing that resilient individuals proactively use leisure coping to cultivate positive emotions and in turn enhance well-being. Leisure coping and positive affect (PA) were suggested to mediate the relationship between resilience and well-being outcomes (stress and flourishing). The model was tested among 202 U.K undergraduates, a population reported to experience high stress. Structural equation modelling revealed that resilience had a significant positive effect on flourishing. Leisure coping beliefs demonstrated a positive relationship with resilience, PA and flourishing. PA mediated the relationship between resilience and flourishing and between resilience and stress. Leisure coping strategies did not meaningfully contribute to the model. Leisure beliefs may have emerged as more important than leisure strategies because leisure beliefs are relatively stable with more enduring effects on health and well-being, while leisure strategies are transient and situation-based. Future research should examine the relationships longitudinally to explore developmental change. Implications of the findings for undergraduates are discussed.

Oral health care-related beliefs among Finnish geriatric home care nurses.

The aim was to investigate beliefs about oral health care tasks among nursing staff caring for home-dwelling older people using the Nursing Dental Coping Beliefs (nursing DCBS) index. The study population comprised nursing staff working at the homes and sheltered accommodations of older people in Ylivieska, Finland (N = 141). The data were collected using the nursing DCBS index (five-point Likert scale). On average, the nurses held moderate to high Oral health care beliefs, Internal locus of control beliefs and External locus of control beliefs, but low beliefs about Self-efficacy. The nurses with an earlier adjunct education scored lower for Oral health care beliefs on the factor Knowledge about preventing gum diseases (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.9) than did the others. Regarding beliefs about External locus of control, the age group 31-49 years scored lower on the factor Retaining teeth as one ages (OR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7), but scored higher on the factor How to prevent dental diseases (OR = 5.6, 95% CI: 1.1-29.3) than did younger nurses (≤30 years). The nurses with only a nursing education showed significantly higher mean scores on the Self-efficacy factor Confidence of the need for dental knowledge than did those with an earlier adjunct education (P = 0.034). The nursing staff mostly believed that oral diseases are preventable and teeth can be retained in advanced age, but failed to recognize the value of dental knowledge and had little confidence in their ability to manage oral diseases. Improving the oral health-related knowledge and self-efficacy beliefs of nursing staff will require additional oral health education.

The Roles of Awareness, Sanctions, and Ethics in Software Compliance

ABSTRACTMonitoring agencies continue to express concern over the use of unlicensed business software in organizations because of the ethical, legal, and financial implications of noncompliance. We constructed a multiple mediation model based on protection motivation theory in order to examine the threat and coping evaluation processes of employees regarding software license compliance. The responses of 138 organizational employees were used to empirically test the research model. The research model helps explain why compliance awareness influences compliance attitudes and behavior. The empirical findings indicate that compliance attitudes result from both consequence and coping appraisals with ethical beliefs having a stronger influence on compliance attitudes compared to the threat of sanctions. Furthermore, awareness drives the formation of threat and coping beliefs and directly influences attitude. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the findings that will enable organizations to meet the compliance challenge.

Developmental Trajectories of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors From Adolescence Through Adulthood

Little is known about the patterns among individuals in the long-term course of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The objective of this study was to identify developmental trajectories of STBs from adolescence through young adulthood, as well as risk and protective covariates, and nonsuicidal outcomes associated with these trajectories. A total of 180 adolescents (ages 12-18 years at recruitment) were repeatedly assessed over an average of 13.6 years (2,273 assessments) since their psychiatric hospitalization. Trajectories were based on ratings of STBs at each assessment. Covariates included psychiatric risk factors (proportion of time in episodes of psychiatric disorders, hopelessness, trait anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression in adulthood, sexual and physical abuse, parental history of suicidal behavior), protective factors (survival and coping beliefs, social support in adulthood, parenthood), and nonsuicidal outcomes (social adjustment and functional impairment in adulthood, school drop-out, incarcerations). Using a Bayesian group-based trajectory model, 4 trajectories of STBs were identified: an increasing risk class (11%); a highest overall risk class (12%); a decreasing risk class (33%); and a low risk class (44%). The 4 classes were associated with distinct patterns of correlates in risk and protective factors and nonsuicidal outcomes. Adolescents and young adults have heterogeneous developmental trajectories of STBs. These trajectories and their covariates may inform strategies for predicting STBs and targeting interventions for individuals at risk for suicidal behavior.

Do reasons for living protect against suicidal thoughts and behaviors? A systematic review of the literature

BackgroundFew studies have investigated protective factors against suicide. ObjectivesTo identify whether reasons for living (RFL), measured with the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFLI), protect against suicidal ideation (SI), attempts (SA) and suicide death. MethodThis systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) statement guidelines. PubMed database was searched for studies published until October 2015. Studies were eligible if they used RFLI or one of its versions. All eligible studies were included, regardless of study design, quality indicators, and target populations. No publication year limit was imposed. We included 39 studies. ResultsRFL may protect against SI and SA and yield a predictive value. The role of two specific reasons for living (Moral Objections to Suicide and Survival and Coping Beliefs) was particularly emphasized. No study investigating suicide death was found. ConclusionRFL may moderate suicide risk factors and correlate with resilience factors. Moreover, RFL may depend on and interact with numerous factors such as DSM-IV Axis I disorders, personality disorders and features, coping abilities and social support. Clinicians could develop therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing RFL, like Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, to prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviors and improve the care management of suicidal patients.

Risk and resilience factors of persons exposed to accidents.

Background and aimsResilience encompasses factors promoting effective functioning in the context of adversity. Data regarding resilience in the wake of accidental trauma is still scarce. The aim of the current study is to comparatively assess adaptive, life – promoting factors in persons exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) vs. persons exposed to other types of accidents, and to identify psychological factors of resilience and vulnerability in this context of trauma exposure.MethodsWe assessed 93 participants exposed to accidents out of 305 eligible patients from the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital and Cluj County Emergency Hospital. The study used Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL) and Life Events Checklist. Scores were comparatively assessed for RFL items, RFL scale and subscales in participants exposed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA) vs. participants exposed to other life – threatening accidents.ResultsParticipants exposed to MVA and those exposed to other accidents had significantly different scores in 7 RFL items. Scores were high in 4 out of 6 RFL subscales for both samples and in most items comprising these subscales, while in the other 2 subscales and in some items comprising them scores were low.ConclusionsLow fear of death, physical suffering and social disapproval emerge as risk factors in persons exposed to life – threatening accidents. Love of life, courage in life and hope for the future are important resilience factors after exposure to various types of life – threatening accidents. Survival and active coping beliefs promote resilience especially after motor vehicle accidents. Coping with uncertainty are more likely to foster resilience after other types of life – threatening accidents. Attachment of the accident victim to family promotes resilience mostly after MVA, while perceived attachment of family members to the victim promotes resilience after other types of accidents.

Suicidality among adolescents engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and firesetting: the role of psychosocial characteristics and reasons for living.

BackgroundCo-occurrence of problem behaviors, particularly across internalizing and externalizing spectra, increases the risk of suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and attempt) among youth.MethodsWe examined differences in psychosocial risk factors across levels of suicidality in a sample of 77 school-based adolescents engaging in both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and repeated firesetting. Participants completed questionnaires assessing engagement in problem behaviors, mental health difficulties, negative life events, poor coping, impulsivity, and suicidality.ResultsAdolescents endorsing suicidal ideation reported greater psychological distress, physical and sexual abuse, and less problem solving/goal pursuit than those with no history of suicidality; adolescents who had attempted suicide reported more severe NSSI, higher rates of victimization and exposure to suicide, relative to those with suicidal ideation but no history of attempt. Additional analyses suggested the importance of coping beliefs in protecting against suicidality.ConclusionsClinical implications and suggestions for future research relating to suicide prevention are discussed.

The Relationship Between Life Course Factors, Parental Demographics, Dental Coping Beliefs and Its Influence on Adolescents Dental Visit: a Cross Sectional Study.

Oral Disease is a multifactorial one that includes behavioral and cultural components, and the severity of the disease depends on regularity of dental visits. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between parental demographics, life course factors, dental coping beliefs with the recent dental attendance among adolescents in Udupi Taluk. Three hundred and fifty adolescents aged 16-19 years from four randomly selected schools in Udupi Taluk participated in this cross sectional study. Information was obtained regarding their parental demographics, their early life course, dental coping beliefs and recent dental attendance. Bivariate followed by multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to elicit variables which predict recent dental attendance. Out of the 324 adolescents who completed the questionnaire, 25.3% reported visiting a dentist within a period of one year. Childhood dental visit, childhood dental experience, housing, internal and external locus of control and self-efficacy were significantly associated with recent dental visit (p<0.05). Participants who lived in cement/brick houses were 4.3 times more likely to visit a dentist within one year compared to those living in hut/mud/combined houses (p<0.05). Adolescents with lower external (OR= 0.11, P<0.003) and low internal (OR=0.05, P<0.001) locus of control had lower odds of visiting a dentist within a year when compared with those having higher locus of control. Childhood financial hardships, childhood dental visits and experiences and dental coping beliefs affect dental attendance pattern during adolescence. These factors should be considered while tailoring interventions to promote the oral health and dental attendance behaviors of adolescents.