Effect of malocclusion among adolescents on family quality of life.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the effect of malocclusion among adolescents on their families' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: A consecutive sample of 125 parents/caregivers of Brazilian adolescents was chosen. Participants were asked to answer the Brazilian version of the Family Impact Scale (FIS). The main independent variable was adolescents' malocclusion, which was measured with the Dental Aesthetic Index. Gender, age, and family monthly income were the other independent variables. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, and univariate and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 125 participants initially admitted to the present study, two were excluded so that 123 parents/caregivers participated providing a response rate of 98.4 %. The overall FIS score revealed a more frequent effect for families of adolescents who presented malocclusion (P = 0.005). Significant findings were also observed for parental emotions (P = 0.022), family conflict (P = 0.010), and financial burden (P = 0.010) subscales. When the independent variables family monthly income and malocclusion were inserted together in the regression model, families with a monthly income of <5 Brazilian minimum wages (approximately US$ 325.00 per month) were more likely to have a worse OHRQoL, and families whose adolescents presented malocclusion were 3.55 more likely to have a poorer quality of life than those families whose adolescents did not present malocclusion. CONCLUSIONS: Families of adolescents with malocclusion were more likely to report a worse OHRQoL.