College students who keep regular dental appointments are more likely to engage in other preventive health practices, according to a new study from George Mason University.
The research, led by MPH student Vanessa Alvarez, found that undergraduates who maintained dental visits were also more likely to schedule physical and eye examinations, carry health insurance, and rate their overall health more positively.
Alvarez collaborated with nutrition professor Lawrence Cheskin, co-principal investigator of “Mason: Health Starts Here,” a long-term study that follows students across their undergraduate years. Data from 349 first-year students showed that those who had dental examinations before college were more likely to continue the habit two years later.
The study also revealed that health insurance predicted dental visits, and that students who sought one type of preventive care often pursued others as well. Dental visits, parental financial support, and higher levels of hope were all tied to more positive self-rated health.
Furthermore, Researchers noted a complex relationship with anxiety: mild anxiety sometimes motivated students to seek care, but higher anxiety levels were linked to avoiding examinations.
The findings are part of Mason’s cohort study launched in 2019, which tracks diet, exercise, sleep, mental health, and substance use among more than 1,000 students.
Future research will focus on eye examinations, gynaecological care, lifestyle changes following the pandemic, and mental health trends.
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