European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSOCIATION OF INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT AND SELF-CONCEPT WITH ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN CHILDREN

Amee Poshiya*, Radhika Tijoriwala, Rima Preshkumar Gandhi, Palak Kothia and Margi Shingala

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Nowadays concept of oral health involves the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in which biological, social, behavioural and psychological components are expressed in a highly complex and interactive manner. To find out if there is any association between intelligence quotient and self-concept which are two major psychological parameters designing character of children during their preadolescent ages with oral health status, the present study is conducted selecting children with similar socioeconomic background. Any significant association will help in providing better ways of oral health care management in these children. Material and Methods: This cross sectional, observational study was conducted at tertiary care institute of India. In our study we have included a sample of 250 subjects - including both males and females. Cattell’s culture fair intelligence test was used to measure intelligence. OHI-S index, DMF index and dft index, Modified Gingival index were used measure oral health status. Results: The comparison between age and self concept was statistically significant with (p value 0.02) indicating, as age increases self concept value also increases. In gender wise comparison of IQ the p value was found to be 0.10 and self concept gave a P value of 025. Both comparisons were not statistically significant. The study subjects with superior, high average and above average IQ were found to have good OHI-S values,low DMFT aswell as dft scores and reduced gingival index values. Those with low and very low IQ values were found to have poor oral hygiene status, increased DMFT and dft scores and higher GI values. Conclusion: Psychological parameters like IQ and self concept can be used as oral health status indicators in young children. Combination of IQ and self concept analysis gives a puissant way of predicting oral health maintenance capacities of children.

Keywords: children, intelligence quotient, oral health, psychological components.