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Self-Determination Theory – Autonomy Support and Improving Oral Health

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Oral Health Psychology

Part of the book series: Textbooks in Contemporary Dentistry ((TECD))

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Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of self-determination theory (SDT) used in oral healthcare practice and research. Interventions promoting autonomy-supportive dental competence, relative to standard care, yielded increase in autonomous motivation, perceived dental competence, and oral hygiene behaviours (e.g. brushing, flossing, more regular meals), decrease in dental plaque and improved oral health. Moreover, the interventions affected more frequent dental attendance and oral health-related quality of life. SDT provides a strong empirical basis that demonstrates the importance of operationalising the core principles of autonomy support, basic psychological needs and motivation to enhance patients’ oral health and oral health-related quality of life.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dental Hygiene Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Anne Elisabeth Münster Halvari

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  1. Anne Elisabeth Münster Halvari
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Correspondence to Anne Elisabeth Münster Halvari .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Tiril Willumsen

  2. Levanger Hospital, Levanger, Norway

    Jostein Paul Årøen Lein

  3. Social Dentistry & Behavioural Sciences, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ronald C. Gorter

  4. Oral health center of expertice Mid-Norway, Trondheim, Norway

    Lena Myran

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Halvari, A.E.M. (2022). Self-Determination Theory – Autonomy Support and Improving Oral Health. In: Willumsen, T., Lein, J.P.Å., Gorter, R.C., Myran, L. (eds) Oral Health Psychology. Textbooks in Contemporary Dentistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04248-5_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04248-5_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-04247-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-04248-5

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