Predictors of Preventive Dental Behavior Among Chinese College Students Based on the Health Belief Model

Date of Award

2018

Degree Name

M.A. in Communication

Department

Department of Commuication

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Angeline Sangalang

Abstract

This study examined the potential for concepts within the Health Belief Model to predict Chinese college students' daily brushing, daily flossing, and annual dental check-up behavior. Additionally, dental-related information seeking and scanning were explored. The survey was completed by 150 Chinese college students and found that some components of HBM significantly predict brushing behavior, flossing behavior, and dental check-up behavior. Self- efficacy was the best predictor of brushing and dental check-up behavior, while barriers and dental-related knowledge were the best predictors of flossing behavior. Participants prefer to seeking from social media and with his or her dentist and scan information from social media and mass media. Information seeking and scanning only significantly predicted flossing behavior. Knowledge, seeking and scanning information from a dentist were the best predictor of dental check-up behavior. Future studies could examine more about self-efficacy and dental health behavior in the Chinese cultural context.

Keywords

Communication, Dental Care, dental health behavior, Health Belief Model, Chinese college students, information seeking and scanning, brushing, flossing, dental checkups

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2018, author

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