Oral status, sense of coherence, religious-spiritual coping, socio-economic characteristics, and quality of life in young patients.

BACKGROUND: Several factors can influence the oral health. AIM: To explore the clinical factors, individual characteristics, and environmental factors (religious-spiritual coping-RSC, sense of coherence [SOC], and socio-economic status) related to oral status and impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children/adolescents (C/A). DESIGN: This study evaluated C/A up to 15 years old and their caregivers. Number of decayed (NDT) and missing teeth (NMT); history of dental trauma; caregiver's RSC and SOC, socio-economic factors, and OHRQoL were evaluated. Theoretical model exploring the direct and indirect effects was tested using a structural equation analysis. RESULTS: For younger group (0-6 years), having more NDT or more NMT had a greater impact on the OHRQoL (beta = 0.382, beta = 0.203, respectively). In the oldest group (7-15 years), a higher SOC had an inverse relationship with the impact on the family OHRQoL (beta=-0.201). The higher the age of the C/A, the lower the NDT (beta=-0.235), and the higher the family income the lower, the need for social benefit (beta = 0.275). Indirect relationships were observed between schooling with social benefit and OHRQoL in younger group. The family income indirectly influenced the OHRQoL in oldest group. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life is affected directly and indirectly by environmental characteristics, oral status, and the age of patients.