The interplay of attention and self-monitoring with self-reporting oral health

We examined the effects of self-monitoring and focus of attention as predictors of self-reported oral health behaviors.

In this study of212 first year dental students, attention was measured with The Focus of Attention Questionnaire (FAQ) and self-monitoring with Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (SMS-R). The questionnaire included also information about socio-demographic factors, self-reported oral health status and behaviors.

Self-Focused Attention (FAQself) was statistically significantly higher in participants who reported more than only one gingival sign (such as gingival bleeding) compared with those who reported healthy gums. Significant differences were observed between the high and low self-monitors regarding the insatisfaction by appearance of own teeth, gingival health, dental visits and mouthrinse frequency. Relation between tootbrushing frequency and self-reported gingival status was moderated by Other-Focused Attention (FAQexternal). FAQexternal also emerged as a moderator for dental visit frequency and self-rated gingival status / dental decays. FAQself and FAQ were moderators for self-reported dental decays, dentist visit frequency and reasons for dental visiting. The relation between flossing frequency and self-rated gingival bleeding, between mouthrinse frequency and self-reported dental decays, between dental visit frequency or reason for dental visits and self-reported dental decays, between reason for dental visits and self-reported dental extractions was moderated by self-monitoring.

The effect of focus of attention and self-monitoring should be considered when tailoring intervention efforts to oral health promotion as well as in studies involving self-reporting as a tool in screening the oral health of populations.