Caregiver's Sense of Coherence: A Predictor of Oral Health-Related Behaviors of Autistic Children in India

CONTEXT: Sense of coherence (SOC) is hypothesized to be an important psychological factor that enables people to cope with stressors and successfully maintain and improve health. AIM: This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the relationship between oral health-related behaviors of autistic children and SOC of their caregivers. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: An Exploratory cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the association of oral health-related behaviors of autistic children and their primary caregiver's sense of coherence in Vadodara city, Gujarat. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 58 autistic children and their caregivers. The Gujarati version of Antonovsky's SOC scale (13 items) was employed to assess the caregiver's SOC. The outcome variables were the child's oral health-related behaviors, including frequency of sugary snack intake, toothbrushing frequency, and utilization of dental service. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the variables. RESULTS: Autistic children whose mothers (as caregivers) had higher SOC scores had a lower frequency of sugary snack intake and greater utilization of dental services compared with the children whose mothers had lower SOC scores. The other measures of oral health-related behaviors of the child were not significantly associated with the caregiver's SOC. CONCLUSION: Oral health-related behaviors of autistic children, namely sugary snack intake frequency, toothbrushing frequency, and utilization of dental services, were associated with the SOC of their mothers.