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Examining the associations between oral health and social isolation: A cross-national comparative study between Japan and England

Author

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  • Koyama, Shihoko
  • Saito, Masashige
  • Cable, Noriko
  • Ikeda, Takaaki
  • Tsuji, Taishi
  • Noguchi, Taiji
  • Abbas, Hazem
  • Miyashiro, Isao
  • Osaka, Ken
  • Kondo, Katsunori
  • Watt, Richard G.
  • Aida, Jun

Abstract

In Western countries, the most important part of the face in communication is the mouth, whereas it is the eyes in Asian countries; thus oral health could be more important in social interactions in Western countries. Our aim was to examine differences in the association between oral health status and social isolation among older people by comparing Japan and England. We used cross-sectional information obtained from adults aged 65+ in two ongoing prospective cohort studies: The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES, N = 120,195) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, N = 3,958). The dependent variable, social isolation score (SIS) was calculated from five factors (marital status, social support from children, social support from family, social support from friends, and social participation). The independent variables were self-reported number of remaining teeth (0, 1–9, 10–19, ≥20) and denture use (≥20 teeth, 10–19 teeth with denture, 10–19 teeth without denture, 0–9 teeth with denture, 0–9 teeth without denture), while the covariates in the model were: sex, age, educational attainment, self-rated health, number of comorbidities, household annual equivalized income, mental health status, daily living activities, and smoking status. We examined associations between oral health status and SIS by applying an ordered logit model by country. Compared to England, more Japanese participants were socially isolated (1.4% vs. 5.8%), but fewer were edentulous (13.1% vs. 7.7%). In both countries, poorer oral health further increased the odds of being socially isolated. Pooled analysis of the ordered logit model with an interaction term showed that the association of number of remaining teeth with SIS was stronger in edentulous participants and in England (odds ratio = 1.50, 95% Confidence interval:1.26–1.80). In both countries, oral health was associated with social isolation; this association could be stronger in England than in Japan.

Suggested Citation

  • Koyama, Shihoko & Saito, Masashige & Cable, Noriko & Ikeda, Takaaki & Tsuji, Taishi & Noguchi, Taiji & Abbas, Hazem & Miyashiro, Isao & Osaka, Ken & Kondo, Katsunori & Watt, Richard G. & Aida, Jun, 2021. "Examining the associations between oral health and social isolation: A cross-national comparative study between Japan and England," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:277:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621002276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113895
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patrick Rouxel & Georgios Tsakos & Panayotes Demakakos & Paola Zaninotto & Tarani Chandola & Richard Geddie Watt, 2015. "Is Social Capital a Determinant of Oral Health among Older Adults? Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Patrick Rouxel & Anja Heilmann & Panayotes Demakakos & Jun Aida & Georgios Tsakos & Richard G. Watt, 2017. "Oral health-related quality of life and loneliness among older adults," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 101-109, June.
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    1. André Hajek & Hans-Helmut König, 2021. "The Association between Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Loneliness, Perceived and Objective Social Isolation—Results of a Nationally Representative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Barbara Janina Gronwald & Karina Kijak & Karolina Jezierska & Helena Anna Gronwald & Kamil Kosko & Mikołaj Matuszczak & Hanna Barbara Bielawska-Victorini & Wojciech Podraza & Leszek Orzechowski & Danu, 2022. "Influence of Freeze-Dried Diet on Oral Hygiene Indicators in Strict Isolation Condition of an Analog Space Mission," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-19, January.

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