The purpose of this study is to provide a foundational information to develop programs for improving oral
health of elderly people and their social efficacy and personal relations by examining the effect of oral health of
the elderly on social efficacy and personal relations. For that purpose, 427 elderly people living in Ulsan
metropolitan city were surveyed for 3 months from Apr 1st to Jun 30th 2009. The result of the survey and
analysis of it is as follows.
1. As for knowledge of oral health, younger people with occupation, high education, spouse, high monthly
expenses showed higher knowledge of oral health. Attitude of oral health showed significant difference in terms
of education, marital status, family situation, monthly income, and behavior of oral health showed significant
difference in terms of age, availability of job, education, family situation, monthly income. As for level of oral
health, younger people with high education, spouse, high monthly income showed higher level of oral health.
Social efficacy and personal relations showed significant difference in terms of gender, age, availability and type of
job, education, marital status, family situation, monthly expenses.
2. People with higher level of behavior of oral health showed higher level of subjective oral health, and
people with higher level of knowledge of oral health, and attitude and behavior of oral health showed higher
level of social efficacy and personal relations.
In conclusion, people with higher level of knowledge of oral health, attitude of oral health and behavior of
oral health have better social efficacy and personal relations, and subjective oral health positively affects social
efficacy and personal relations. Social efficacy and personal relations are important factors for successful senescence,
and poor oral health has negative effect on social efficacy and personal relations of the elderly, which may cause
sense of social alienation and isolation. Therefore it is necessary to provide various educational and supporting
programs systematically to improve oral health of elderly people.