The mediating effect of social support on the association between socioeconomic status and oral health among the migrant elderly following children in Weifang, China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background As an important part of the elderly population, the migrant elderly following children (MEFC) have received more and more attention in the background of active aging. The purpose of this study is to clarify the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and oral health among the MEFC in Weifang, China. Methods Multistage cluster random sampling was used to select the participants and finally 613 MEFC were included in the survey. The Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Chinese version of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) scale were used for data collection. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, t-test and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted in this study. Results Mean score of GOHAI of the MEFC was 54.95 ± 6.47. The SES of MEFC exerted positive direct effect both on social support (standardized coefficient = 0.15) and oral health (standardized coefficient = 0.22); social support exerted positive direct effect on oral health (standardized coefficient = 0.17). Social support partially mediated the association between SES and oral health [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.003–0.064, P < 0.05], and the mediating effect of social support accounted for 12.0% of the total effect. Conclusions Higher GOHAI score of MEFC indicated their good oral health status. MEFCs’ SES could exert positive effect both on social support and oral health, while the moderating effect of social support between SES and oral health of MEFC was established. Targeted implication for the government, community and family members were proposed to improve the oral health of MEFC.