Psychological distress and well-being: their association with temporomandibular disorder symptoms

ABSTRACT

Objective

This study investigated the associations between temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms, psychological distress, and well-being.

Methods

A total of 372 university students were recruited and stratified into no TMD, TMD pain, TMJ sounds, and combined TMD groups. Psychological distress and well-being were assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Scales of Psychological Well-being-18 (SPWB-18), respectively. Data were appraised with Kruskal-Wallis/Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regression analysis (α = 0.05)

Results

Significant differences in anxiety, stress, and autonomy scores were observed among the four groups, and psychological distress was mostly negatively correlated to psychological well-being. Multivariate analyses revealed that anxiety was associated with TMD pain, TMJ sounds, and combined TMD, while autonomy was related to TMJ sounds.

Conclusion

Participants with TMD symptoms generally experienced more psychological distress and lower autonomy. Anxiety appeared to increase the likelihood of TMD pain and/or TMJ sounds.

KEYWORDS:

• Temporomandibular disorders
• depression
• anxiety
• stress
• psychological well-being

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Faculty of Dentistry, Trisakti University for supporting and Ni Luh Widya, Ariel Jason, Nadhira Shabila, and Novey Riyanti for their assistance in data collection.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no financial or personal conflict of interest to report relating to this article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.