Volume 22, Issue 9 pp. 766-772

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Relationship between oral health and social activity among community-dwelling older adults in Korea: Focusing on the mediating effect of depressive symptoms

Han Nah Park,

Han Nah Park

orcid.org/0000-0003-2685-5747

College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

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Ju Young Yoon,

Corresponding Author

Ju Young Yoon

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-3944-0663

College of Nursing and Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

Correspondence

Dr. Ju Young Yoon PhD RN,

Associate Professor, College of Nursing and Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Han Nah Park,

Han Nah Park

orcid.org/0000-0003-2685-5747

College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

Search for more papers by this author

Ju Young Yoon,

Corresponding Author

Ju Young Yoon

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-3944-0663

College of Nursing and Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

Correspondence

Dr. Ju Young Yoon PhD RN,

Associate Professor, College of Nursing and Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 08 August 2022

https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14452

Citations: 4

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Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to examine the relationship between oral health and social activity, and explore the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between oral health and social activity among community-dwelling older adults in Korea.

Methods

A total of 5033 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years were included in the analysis. Data were obtained from the seventh wave (2018) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis and path analysis for mediation analysis were used.

Results

Path analysis showed that older adults with better oral health had more social activities (β = 0.177, P < 0.001) and fewer depressive symptoms (β = −0.174, P < 0.001). Depressive symptoms had a mediating role partially in the relationship between oral health and social activity (β = 0.014, P < 0.001). The results of in-depth exploration using oral health subdomains showed that physical oral function and oral pain or discomfort were directly related to the social activity (β = 0.083 and β = 0.149, respectively) and indirectly mediated by depressive symptoms (β = 0.006 and β = 0.004, respectively). However, psychosocial oral function only had an indirect effect on social activity mediated by depressive symptoms (β = 0.006, P = 0.005).

Conclusions

Better oral health had a significant association with higher levels of social activities, which was partially mediated by decreased depressive symptoms. It is necessary to pay more attention to oral health promotion for older adults to decrease depressive symptoms and increase participation in social activities. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 766–772.

Open Research

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Korea Employment Information Service website (https://survey.keis.or.kr/index.jsp).

Supporting Information

Filename	Description
ggi14452-sup-0001-AppendixA.docxWord 2007 document , 25.7 KB	Appendix S1. Results of path invariance test and unstandardized path coefficients by sex (female and male), age (young-old and old-old) and residence (rural and urban). Covariates for social activity (age, residence, religion, family in need of care, smoking habit, subjective health and the number of remaining teeth) and depressive symptoms (age, residence, religion, family in need of care, subjective health and the number of remaining teeth) were included in the path invariance test.
ggi14452-sup-0002-AppendixB.jpgimage/jpp, 66.8 KB	Appendix S2. Comparison of the unstandardized path coefficients by sex (female and male), age (young-old and old-old) and residence (rural and urban). Covariates for social activity (age, residence, religion, family in need of care, smoking habit, subjective health and the number of remaining teeth) and depressive symptoms (age, residence, religion, family in need of care, subjective health and the number of remaining teeth) were included in the path invariance test.
ggi14452-sup-0003-AppendixC.docxWord 2007 document , 16.5 KB	Appendix S3. Path model without covariates among total and subdomains of oral health, depressive symptoms and social activity. Values are standardized coefficients.

Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

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Volume22, Issue9

September 2022

Pages 766-772

Relationship between oral health and social activity among community-dwelling older adults in Korea: Focusing on the mediating effect of depressive symptoms

Abstract

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Open Research

Data availability statement

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Relationship between oral health and social activity among community-dwelling older adults in Korea: Focusing on the mediating effect of depressive symptoms

Abstract

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Open Research

Data availability statement

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

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