The relationship between subjective body shape perception, health factors, and oral health factors among Korean adolescents- based on the 2015 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey -

Kyeong-Hee  Lee1,*   

Department of Dental Hygiene, Shinhan University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between demographic characteristics, health factors, oral health factors and subjective body shape perception of adolescents in order to provide basic data for adolescents health management. This study was analyzed using Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey in 2015, where 68,043 adolescents in total participated. Data were analyzed by SPSS Ver. 21.0. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the relationships among health factors and oral health factors related to subjective body shape perception.The analysis of the factors influencing the body shape perception of male adolescents showed that they tend to be low in school performance, low in family economic level, and high school students. The worse they perceive their subjective health to be, the more they feel stress, and the less frequently they brush their teeth per day. They had bad breath. The analysis of the factors influencing the body shape perception of female adolescents showed that they tend to be low in school performance, low in family economic level, and high school students. The worse they feel their subjective health is, the more they feel unhappy, and stressful, and the less frequently they brush their teeth per day. They feel pain during chewing, and have bad breath. In conclusion, it is necessary to consider educational intervention in adolescent life that will make them have proper perception of their body shape for proper health management of it. To make the intervention effective, we need to consider various factors such as health factors and oral health factors.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. Relationship between BMI index and subjective body shape perception in adolescents        Unit: Mean±SD