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Ylöstalo PV, Ek E et al. Eur J Oral Sci 2003; 111: 477–482

Currently there is interest in the different health behaviours associated with problem-focused and emotion-focused coping when people are faced with personal problems. The former is an active attempt to change the situation and the latter is a passive avoidance or diversionary activity. Problem-focused coping is considered to be generally more effective. Optimism has been associated with better outcomes in some health situations, and is associated with active coping.

This study centred on a 31 yr-old birth cohort of 11,541 Finns, 75% of whom responded to a questionnaire enquiry. There was a small but significant effect of optimism on dental health behaviour, educational level had a similar effect, and there was better behaviour in females. Optimism was associated with active coping, but the latter had no effect on health behaviour when the former was taken into account. There was also a relationship of optimism, but no other variables, with reductions in self-reported caries, gingival bleeding and oral pain.