Original scientific paper
Unrealistic Optimism and Demographic Influence on Oral Health-Related Behaviour and Perception in Adolescents in Croatia
Corinna Pellizzer
Slavica Pejda
Stjepan Špalj
Darije Plančak
Abstract
Knowledge and motivation are considered to be essential determinants of health-related behaviour. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of demographic characteristics, perception, knowledge and motivation regarding oral health of adolescents on their habits in oral hygiene. The study was conducted in 2006 in the
sample of 302 secondary school students, aged 17 to 19, from three cities in different Croatian regions using a questionnaire. Data were analysed by nonparametric statistics. Adolescents have relatively high perception regarding oral health, but their perception of oral diseases is quite low. Although different demographic, social and gender-related factors affect oral health behaviours, they are less affected by adolescents’ knowledge. And in fact those who were better educated about oral diseases and prevention didn’t practice basic hygiene significantly more often, nor used additional products, changed their toothbrush, visited dentist or avoided sugar. It is obvious that young people do not draw personal implications from health risk information, or can not easily recognise the link between their own behaviour and the risk they are putting themselves into. It has been related to unrealistic optimism, the tendency to perceive negative events as less likely and positive events as more likely to oneself than to others.
Keywords
Oral Hygiene; Oral Health; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
16561
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2007.
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