Associations between Individual-level and Area-level social disadvantage and oral health behaviours in Australian adolescents

Abstract

Background Oral health behaviours are significant determinants of oral health. There is evidence that socioeconomic position influences oral health behaviours, but little is known about this association during adolescence. This study aims to investigate the association between social disadvantage (individual and area level) and oral health behaviours among Australian adolescents. Methods This study utilized data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). The sample consisted of 2877 adolescents. Exposure measures were area‐level social disadvantage (Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas) and parent‐reported household income from Wave 5. Outcomes, measured in Wave 6, were three dif..