Ethnic Variation in Oral Health and Social Integration Among Older Rural Adults

• Published in: Journal of applied gerontology Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 302 - 323
• Main Authors: Arcury, Thomas A., Chen, Haiying, Savoca, Margaret R., Anderson, Andrea M., Leng, Xiaoyan, Bell, Ronny A., Quandt, Sara A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2013; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: African Americans - psychology; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Aged - psychology; Aged - statistics & numerical data; American Indians; Black White Differences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental health; Elderly; European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health; Health Problems; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Indians, North American - psychology; Indians, North American - statistics & numerical data; Male; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Older people; Oral Health - ethnology; Oral Health - statistics & numerical data; Polls & surveys; Rural Areas; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Social Integration; Social Networks; Social Support; Whites; United States > US; social network; rural aging; social engagement; oral health disparities
• ISSN: 0733-4648; 1552-4523
• DOI: 10.1177/0733464811420428

This analysis examines the associations of oral health with social integration among ethnically diverse (African American, American Indian, White) rural older adults. Data are from a cross-sectional survey of 635 randomly selected community-dwelling adults aged 60+. Measures include self-rated oral health, number of teeth, number of oral health problems, social engagement, and social network size. Minority elders have poorer oral health than do White older adults. Most rural elders have substantial social engagement and social networks. Better oral health (greater number of teeth) is directly associated with social engagement, whereas the relationship of oral health to social network size is complex. The association of oral health with social engagement does not differ by ethnicity. Poorer oral health is associated with less social integration among African American, American Indian, and White elders. More research on the ways oral health affects the lives of older adults is warranted.