Sense of coherence moderates the relationship between social capital and oral health‑related quality of life in schoolchildren: a 10-year cohort study

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 56 - 9
• Main Authors: Knorst, Jessica Klöckner, Vettore, Mario Vianna, Brondani, Bruna, Emmanuelli, Bruno, Tomazoni, Fernanda, Ardenghi, Thiago Machado
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 02.04.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Brazil; Child; Child development; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Coherence; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Coping (Psychology); COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data analysis; Data collection; Demographic aspects; Dental Caries; Elementary school students; Evaluation; Health aspects; Humans; Immunization; Infant; Moderating effect; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Pediatric research; Psychological aspects; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Sense of Coherence; Social aspects; Social Capital; Social networks; Social organization; Teenagers; Trust; Brazil; Moderating effect; Brazil; Sense of coherence; Children; Oral Health; Social capital; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/s12955-022-01965-3

This study aimed to evaluate the moderating effect of sense of coherence (SOC) on the relationship between social capital and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among schoolchildren. A cohort study was conducted in the city of Santa Maria, Brazil, involving children aged 1-5 years at baseline who were reassessed after 10 years in adolescence (11-15 years-old). Social capital was assessed at baseline and follow-up through social networks and social trust. Sense of coherence scale (SOC-13) and the short form of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14) were measured at 10-years follow-up. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and dental caries were also evaluated. Moderating effect of SOC on the relationship between social capital and OHRQoL was tested using multilevel adjusted Poisson regression analysis and simple slope test. From the 639 subjects assessed at baseline, 429 were reassessed at follow-up (cohort retention rate 67.1%). Moderate and high levels of SOC demonstrated a moderating effect on the relationship between social capital and OHRQoL. Among individuals who presented low social capital at baseline and follow-up, those who had high SOC reported, respectively, an impact 63% and 70% lower on OHRQoL when compared to those with low SOC. The greatest margin effect was observed in individuals with low social capital and low SOC at follow-up (24.25; p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that SOC moderates the negative impact of low social capital on poor OHRQoL in schoolchildren.