Gender differences in roles of health behavior between marital status and oral health.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Marital status is a form of social network and source of social support, and it is beneficial to oral health by enhancing health behaviors. We examined the mediating effects of oral health behaviors on the association of marital status with the number of teeth.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study 2022, targeting individuals aged ≥65 years. Marital status was the exposure, and the number of teeth was the outcome. Mediation effects of dental treatment, dental checkup, tooth brushing, alcohol drinking, and smoking were evaluated using the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method.

Results

Of the 21 745 participants, the mean number of teeth was higher in participants having a spouse (men: 18.49 [standard deviation, SD = 1

SUBMITTER: Sharmin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12501663 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature