Title: Behavioural Determinants of Dental Health Behaviour: a Meta-Analytical Review

Abstract

Background: The aim was to quantify the relationship between behavioural determinants and dental health behaviour among 9-18 year old children. Methods: Searches were conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL and EMBASE. In total 25 studies were included, which addressed 16 variables. A weighted average effect size correlation (WAES r) was calculated per determinant and dental health behaviour. According to Cohen (1988) effect sizes can be considered as small (r = 0.10), medium (r = 0.30) and large (r = 0.50). Findings: All WAES r’s were significant and revealed a positive relation between determinant and dental health behaviour. Large effects were found for coping planning and self-efficacy. Medium-to-large effects were found for the determinants: intention, affective attitude, and action planning. The WAES r was small-to-medium effects were found for: social norms, cognitive attitude, knowledge, parental oral health behaviour and parental cognitions. Discussion: Although the number of studies focusing on volitional factors are limited, the overall findings highlight the importance of volitional factors, rather than knowledge or motivational factors in explaining dental health behaviour.