The association between family environment and dental caries of children via non-cognitive skills

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19309
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuyama Yusuke 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (80830124)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 歯科保健 / う蝕 / 子ども / 家庭機能 / 非認知スキル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Dental caries is the most common disease among schoolchildren in Japan, which should be addressed. The family environment is the most familiar social environment for children. However, the relationship between family functions and dental caries has not been well studied. This study conducted a survey of elementary school children and their parents in Adachi city, Tokyo, and analyzed the data to investigate that family function is associated with dental caries of chidlen and that parent-child interactions can reduce dental caries by fostering non-cognitive skills and promoting healthy behaviors in children.

Free Research Field

歯学、疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により家庭機能が子どものう蝕に関連することが明らかになった。さらに、家庭でのポジティブな関わりにより子どもの非認知スキルが育まれ、良好な口腔保健行動を介してう蝕を予防する可能性が示された。家庭の社会経済状況が子どものう蝕に関連することは多くの研究が示しているが、有効な介入手段は確立されていない。家庭機能は改善可能であり、本研究でう蝕予防の手段となりうることが示された意義は大きい。この結果をもとに、将来的な介入手段の確立を見据えたさらなる研究が必要だろう。