Low income is associated with impaired jaw function via anxiety and depression in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

ObjectiveThe association between jaw function and income in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore this association and its relationship with anxiety and depression.Subjects and MethodsA total of 451 TMD patients, including 361 males and 90 females, participated in this study. The sociodemographic information of patients and their questionnaires including the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7‐item (GAD‐7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9‐item (PHQ‐9), and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale‐8 (JFLS‐8) were collected. Patients were divided into the high‐income and low‐income groups based on a household per capita income of 6000 RMB per month. Multiple regression and mediation analysis were used to explore the association between variables. The bootstrap method was applied to estimate confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsHigher JFLS‐8 scores were significantly correlated with higher GAD‐7 scores (r = 0.361, p < .001), PHQ‐9 scores (r = 0.339, p < .001). Females and patients with low income had statistically higher JFLS‐8 scores (p < .01, p < .001). Mediation analysis with 10 000 bootstrap simulations revealed a significant direct association between JFLS‐8 scores and income (−2.920, 95% CI [−4.757, −1.044], p = .002). A significant indirect association of JFLS‐8 scores with income via GAD‐7 scores and PHQ‐9 scores was also observed (−0.889, 95% CI [−1.728, −0.164], p = .025), accounting for 23.3% of the total association.ConclusionsLow income is associated with impaired jaw function via anxiety and depression in patients with TMD. Clinicians may need to pay more attention to the psychological status of low‐income TMD patients in clinical practice.

Anxiety mediates association between sex and jaw function limitation in temporomandibular disorder patients from China

“…Demographics included age, sex, education level and income of the participants. The age of the participants was recorded as a continuous variable in years, and the sex variable was recorded on the basis of the sex registered in the ID card ( 29 ). Education levels were categorized into three groups: (1) elementary/junior high/senior high school degree, (2) college/bachelor’s degree, and (3) master’s/doctor’s degree.…”