Psychometric Evaluation of the Odia-Adapted Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ): A Cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Psychosocial Impact of Malocclusion in Eastern Indian Adolescents

Introduction The psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics significantly influences adolescents' emotional well-being, self-esteem, and social interactions. While the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) has been validated across diverse populations, no version previously existed for the Odia-speaking adolescent population in Eastern India. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the PIDAQ for adolescents aged 10 to 13 years in Odisha. Method The original PIDAQ was translated and culturally adapted into Odia following forward and backward translation, expert panel review, and pilot testing. The finalized questionnaire was administered to 450 adolescents from urban and semi-urban schools in Odisha. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Construct validity was determined through exploratory factor analysis, and discriminant validity was established by comparing scores across malocclusion severity categories using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need-Dental Health Component (IOTN-DHC) and Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need-Aesthetic Component (IOTN-AC) indices. Convergent validity was evaluated by correlating PIDAQ scores with IOTN-AC scores. Results The Odia version of the PIDAQ demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.72 to 0.78, and high test-retest reliability (ICC ranging from 0.71 to 0.84). Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a stable four-factor structure explaining 56.56% of the total variance. Discriminant validity was demonstrated through significant differences (p < 0.001) in PIDAQ scores across malocclusion severity groups. Moderate, statistically significant correlations between PIDAQ scores and IOTN-AC scores (ρ = 0.389) confirmed convergent validity. Conclusion The Odia-adapted PIDAQ is a reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate tool for assessing the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics in adolescents, with significant potential for clinical use, public health research, and policy development.