# Virtue of courage as modulator in interactions among oral health beliefs, oral hygiene habits and dietary preferences

## TL;DR

This study explores how the virtue of courage influences the relationship between oral health beliefs, hygiene habits, and dietary choices.

## Contribution

It identifies courage as a psychological virtue that significantly affects dietary preferences related to oral health.

## Key findings

- Courage showed a significant positive correlation with nutritional preferences (r = .241, P = .016).
- Perseverance was positively linked to better dietary choices (r = .239, P = .017).
- Character strengths of courage may improve compliance with oral health beliefs.

## Abstract

The impact of virtue of courage as mediating and moderating variable in interactions of oral health beliefs with oral hygiene habits
and dietary preferences is of interest. A total of 100 patients with a complain of periodontal ailments and dental caries were enrolled
from dental institute. 40 items belonging to character strengths of psychological virtue of courage in values in action Inventory of
Strength (VIA-IS) Questionnaire and 15 Oral Health Belief Questionnaire items were recorded. Oral hygiene habits and dietary preferences
congruent with oral health were also recorded. A significant positive correlation was observed in the following variables:
barriers/gender (correlation coefficient =.212, P =.034) There was positive correlation between perseverance and nutritional preferences
(correlation coefficient = .239, P =.017); courage and nutritional preferences (correlation coefficient = .241, P = .016). Virtue of
courage and its character strengths have significant positive impact over dietary preferences congruent with oral health. Inculcation of
character strengths belonging to courage as virtue may have the potential to modulate compliance to oral health beliefs and consequently
oral health.