The theoretical background for the study was drawn
from social cognition models and a literature search
on oral health, the process of adolescence and
adolescents’ attitudes and beliefs in relation to oral
disease. The following social cognition models
were used: the Health Belief Model (HBM) which
demonstrates how individuals weigh up the advantages
and disadvantages of a health behaviour before
taking action [17]; the Theory of Planned
Behaviour (TPB) which describes how intentions to
perform particular behaviours are formed [18] and
the Health Locus of Control (HLC) which suggests
that individuals may regard their health as being
either under their own control or under the control
of other powerful individuals [19]. These three
models represent different types of social cognition
models in that the HBM describes behavioural
influences, the TPB attempts to predict behaviours
and the HLC offers one specific explanation for
health behaviours. Previous work has demonstrated
that using this combination of models to study oral
health behaviours is of value [20].