Social Capital and Oral Health Among Adults 50 Years and Older: Results From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Objectives: This study examines the differential associations of structural and functional social capital with objective and subjective measures of oral health, and the interactions between social capital and other sociodemographic and health factors.

Methods: Secondary analysis of data on 8552 adults 50 years and older from the third wave (2006-2007) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing was conducted. Oral health outcomes were self-rated oral health, edentulousness (having no natural teeth), and Oral Impacts on Daily Performances. Structural social capital was measured by membership of social organizations and volunteering. Functional social capital was measured by the number of close ties and perceived emotional social support. Logistic regression models were sequentially adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health-related factors, and smoking status.

Results: Structural social capital was primarily associated with edentulousness. Not being a member of any organization was associated with higher odds of being edentate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43-2.16). Functional social capital was associated with self-rated oral health and oral impacts. Low social support was associated with poor self-rated oral health (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.16-1.72) and Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.27-2.24).

Conclusions: The association of structural social capital with edentulousness may reflect health selection effects. The availability of a supportive social network seems to be the aspect of social capital most strongly associated with oral health.