<![CDATA[Elderly individuals commonly experience physiological, psychological, and social changes that hinder their ability to maintain optimal oral and dental health. Low self-efficacy, combined with insufficient social support, has been identified as a major contributor to poor oral-health behaviors among older adults, particularly in underserved rural communities. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between social support and self-efficacy in maintaining oral and dental health among elderly residents in Sebalong Village, Nguling District, Pasuruan, in 2024. An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, involving 33 elderly participants selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using two standardized instruments: the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) and the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Scale for Oral Health (GSEOH), both of which demonstrated high reliability. Descriptive statistics were used to categorize social support and self-efficacy levels, while Spearman’s rank correlation test was applied to examine the relationship between the variables. The findings indicated that most respondents received moderate social support (mean = 13.78), whereas their self-efficacy levels were predominantly low (mean = 29.0). The correlation analysis showed a statistically significant positive relationship between social support and self-efficacy (p = 0.028; r = 0.383), suggesting that higher social support is associated with improved confidence in performing oral-health maintenance behaviors. These results highlight the need for community-based interventions that strengthen emotional, instrumental, informational, and esteem support for elderly individuals. Enhancing social support networks may serve as a practical strategy to improve oral-health behaviors and overall well-being among older adults in rural settings. Strengthened collaboration among families, local health workers, and community programs is recommended to ensure sustainable improvements in elderly oral-health maintenance.]]>
