Associations of Internet Use with Oral Hygiene Based on National Youth Risk Behavior Survey
10.5765/jkacap.2018.29.1.26
- Author:
Subin PARK
1
;
Jung Hyun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Research Planning, Mental Health Research Institute, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Oral health;
Problematic Internet use;
Adolescents;
Korea
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Education;
Humans;
Internet;
Korea;
Lunch;
Mass Screening;
Odds Ratio;
Oral Health;
Oral Hygiene;
Risk-Taking;
Tooth
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
2018;29(1):26-30
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of problematic Internet use with oral health behaviors and oral health status in a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents. METHODS: Data from the 2010 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (73238 Korean adolescents; mean age 15.06±1.75 years; age range, 12–18 years) were used. Problematic Internet use was measured using the Korean Internet Addiction Proneness Scale for Youth-Short Form. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess oral health behaviors and oral health status of adolescents. RESULTS: Problematic Internet users were less likely to brush their teeth frequently [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.59; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.56–0.63] and at school after lunch (AOR=0.89; 95% CI=0.83–0.94) as well as more likely to perceive their oral health to be poorer (AOR=1.63, 95% CI=1.54–1.72) and experience oral symptoms (AOR=1.75, 95% CI=1.65–1.86) compared to usual Internet users. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that problematic Internet use may adversely affect the oral health of Korean adolescents. Thus, oral health screening and Internet-based education are needed for adolescents experiencing problematic Internet use.
