Relationship between locus of control and treatment compliance in adult orthodontic patients

Lee, Shin Jae

Abstract

It could be suggested that adult orthodontic patients may have peculiar psychological features as well as different periodontal tissue conditions compared with adolescent patients. The aims of the present investigation were to explore the relationships between psychological characteristics and treatment compliance of patient to orthodontist and assistants (dental hygienists). Two types of locus of control data (I-score, Internal locus of control score ; E-score, External locus of control score) were obtained for 312 adult patients and 765 adolescents and then analyzed in relation to their sex and treatment compliance. In general, orthodontic patients showed higher I-score trends than ordinary persons and adult patients manifested higher I-score than adolescent patients. Unlike adult patients, female adolescent patients showed higher I-score than male adolescent patients. Adult patients with higher E-score and adolescent patients with higher I-score than their counter-part subgroup were classified into more compliant group. Orthodontist performed more generous decision about patients' compliance than assistants. The results of this study also suggest that psychological survey in orthodontic field could comprise useful diagnostic criteria.