Early life violent victimisation and dental care use from adolescence through adulthood

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between early-life violent victimisation and dental care utilisation patterns from adolescence to middle adulthood (ages 11-43).

METHODS: Data were from Waves I through V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) was used to examine patterns of dental care use across five waves, spanning ages 11-43. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between violent victimisation experiences in adolescence and dental care use trajectory group membership, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and health-related covariates.

RESULTS: Four dental care trajectories were identified: High Dental Care Use (22.8%), Intermittent Decreasing Dental Care Use (38.6%), Intermittent Increasing Dental Care Use (21.8%) and Low Dental Care Use (16.9%). Higher violent victimisation in adolescence was associated with an increased relative risk of belonging to the Intermittent Dental Care Use (RRR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02-1.41) and Low Dental Care Use (RRR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.46) compared to the High Dental Care Use group.

CONCLUSIONS: Early-life violent victimisation serves as a risk factor for less regular dental care use over the life course. Addressing the cumulative effects of violent victimisation through trauma-informed care and targeted interventions may improve dental care access and mitigate disparities over the life course.