Dataset Information

Is orthodontic treatment associated with changes in self-esteem during adolescence? A longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study explored the association between history of orthodontic treatment and changes in self-esteem among British adolescents.

Design

Birth cohort study.

Setting

United Kingdom.

Participants

Data from 2600 participants of the British Cohort Study were analysed.

Methods

Participants completed the Lawrence Self-Esteem Questionnaire (LAWSEQ) at the ages of 10 and 16 years. The change in LAWSEQ score over six years was the outcome. Participants were divided into two groups according to parental reports of orthodontic treatment at the same ages. The association between history of orthodontic treatment and six-year changes in LAWSEQ score was tested in linear regression models adjusting for demographic factors (adolescents' sex and ethnicity), family socioeconomic status (parental social class and mothers' education), perceived orthodontic treatment need and baseline LAWSEQ score.

Results

According to parental reports, 8% of participants had a history of orthodontic treatment. The mean LAWSEQ score at baseline was 13.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.6-13.9) and increased significantly over time by 1.7 units (95% CI 1.5-1.9). Orthodontic treatment history was positively, albeit not significantly, associated with change in LAWSEQ score (coefficient: 0.08, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.72). The direction of the association reversed but remained non-significant after adjustment for all confounders (coefficient: -0.19; 95% CI -0.68 to 0.30). Improvements in self-esteem were positively associated with mothers' education (coefficient: 0.85; 95% CI 0.09-1.61) and negatively associated with self-esteem at baseline (coefficient -0.79; 95% CI -0.82 to -0.75).

Conclusion

This six-year longitudinal study provided no evidence for an association between history of orthodontic treatment and changes in self-esteem during adolescence.

SUBMITTER: Vulugundam S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8652369 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the trends in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) from the age of 13 to 17 years and to evaluate how sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics at the age of 13 impact changes in BMI and BF%.SettingPorto, Portugal.ParticipantsWe evaluated 1451 adolescents in a community-based cohort.Outcome measuresBMI z-scores were calculated according to CDC references. BF% was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Variables with a significant effect in adiposity changes were identified through linear regression models. In girls, estimates were controlled for duration of follow-up, parental education, baseline BMI z-score, age at menarche and the interaction term baseline BMI z-score×age at menarche; in boys, adjustments were performed for duration of follow-up, parental education, baseline BMI z-score and the interaction term baseline BMI z-score×duration of follow-up.ResultsOn average, BMI z-score decreased from the age of 13 to 17 years (mean difference -0.20, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.16 among girls and -0.15, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.11 among boys). Accordingly, 12.4% of girls and 13% of boys moved to a lower BMI category and 2.2% of girls and 5.5% of boys to a higher category. There were sex differences in the significant determinants of adiposity trends. Among girls, BMI z-score significantly decreased with baseline BMI z-score (β=-0.163, 95% CI -0.204 to -0.122) and significantly increased with age at menarche (β=0.078, 95% CI 0.050 to 0.107). Results were similar for BF%. Among boys, BMI z-score significantly increased with higher parental BMI, and BF% decreased among those who wished to look larger at the age of 13 (β=-1.367, 95% CI -2.174 to -0.560), compared with those who were satisfied with their image.ConclusionsIn adolescents, ageing resulted in a decrease in BMI z-scores and BF%. BMI and BF% at the age of 13 were the major determinants of the observed trends. Our results suggest that adolescence is a possible specific time window for intervention.