Dental confidence and subjective well-being in young adults. The mediating role of self-esteem

Background Dental aesthetic issues can negatively affect mental functioning and create barriers in social functioning in young individuals. Objective This study aimed to analyze the role of self-esteem in the relationship between dental self-confidence and well-being in young Romanian adults and to test whether self-esteem functions as a mediator in this association. Methods A cross-sectional study was employed, using a convenience sample of 775 respondents (Mean age = 21.74 years, SD = 3.40; 410 females) who were recruited to complete an online survey. This survey assessed dental self-confidence (scale from the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and subjective well-being via its cognitive and affective dimensions (Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience). Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-SEM), a variance-based structural equation modeling method, was used to analyze the data. Results The findings showed that the relationship between the influence of dental aesthetics and subjective well-being was partially mediated by self-esteem. Dental self-confidence positively impacted self-esteem ( β =0.345), which in turn had a significant impact on well-being (β = 0.724). Together, self-esteem and dental self-confidence explained 59.9% of the variation in subjective well-being. Conclusions The study concludes that young people who perceive themselves more positively regarding dental aesthetics tend to experience higher levels of well-being. The findings suggest that oral health campaigns to raise awareness of the psychosocial relevance of dental health could be beneficial.