Oral health-related quality of life, probable depression and probable anxiety: evidence from a representative survey in Germany

Abstract

Background There is limited knowledge regarding the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety. Our objective was to examine the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety in the German population (stratified by sex). Methods In sum, n = 3,075 individuals took part in a nationally representative survey (August/September 2021). The well-established Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; cut-off of 10) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; cut-off of 10) were used to quantify probable depression and anxiety, respectively. Results The likelihood of probable depression was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18–1.25) and in both women and men. Additionally, the likelihood of probable anxiety was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.14–1.21) and in both women and men. Conclusions Our study emphasized the association between lower oral health-related quality of life and probable depression as well as anxiety in the general adult population in Germany. Future longitudinal studies are required to confirm our findings.

Personality and oral health-related quality of life. Results from an online survey

“…Moreover, the Pearson correlation between openness and oral health-related quality did not achieve statistical significance. While the sign for two associations ([ 1 ] between extraversion and oral health-related quality of life; [ 2 ] between openness and oral-health related quality of life) changed from the Pearson correlation to multiple linear regression, it should be emphasized that both associations did not achieve statistical significance in regression analysis.…”

“…(2022) 22:463 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02486-7 [2,3]. It is also associated with morbidity and mortality [4].…”

“…It is an important component of the overall health of individuals. A lower oral health-related quality of life can contribute to feelings of loneliness, social isolation or lower mental health [ 2 , 3 ]. It is also associated with morbidity and mortality [ 4 ].…”

“…In regression analysis, we adjusted for some potential confounders (in accordance with prior research [ 2 ] and also based on theoretical considerations): sex, age, marital status (four categories: married, living together with spouse; married, not living together with spouse; divorced; widowed; single), educational level (upper secondary school; qualification for applied upper secondary school; polytechnic Secondary School; intermediate Secondary School; Lower Secondary School; currently in school training/education; without school-leaving qualification), labor force participation (full-time employed; retired; other), smoking behavior (never smoker; no, not anymore; yes, sometimes; yes, daily), alcohol consumption (daily; several times per week; once a week; 1–3 times per month; less often; never) and sports activities (regularly, more than 4 h a week; regularly, 2–4 h a week; regularly, 1–2 h a week; less than one hour a week; no sports activity), self-rated health (single item from 1 = very bad to 5 = very good) and chronic disease (no chronic disease; one or more chronic diseases). For example, prior research has shown that sociodemographic factors such as age and educational level are associated with oral health-related quality of life [ 7 ].…”

Assessment of the professional dental cleaning knowledge, behavior and medical compliance among dentists, medical doctors and non-medical staffs: a cross sectional study in Chongqing, China

“…Poor oral hygiene is the main cause of PD and also a marker for poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [ 9 ]. Some studies showed the association between lower HRQoL and a higher likelihood of probable depression as well as anxiety [ 10 – 12 ]. The maintenance of oral health requires the combination of self-oral health behavior and professional oral care measures.…”