Psychological distress and coping orientations in young adults: their associations with temporomandibular disorder symptoms

Abstract

Objectives The relationships between Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms, psychological distress and coping, together with the psychological risk factors for TMDs were investigated in young adults. Material and methods The quintessential five TMD symptoms (5Ts) of the DC/TMD were used to screen for TMDs. Participants were categorized into 5Ts-negative/positive groups and 5Ts-positive individuals were divided into those with pain-related (PT), intra-articular (IT) and combined (CT) TMD symptoms. Psychological distress and coping were examined using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 and brief-COPE inventory. Statistical evaluations were performed using non-parametric and regression analyses (α = 0.05). Results Of the 455 participants (mean age 22.5 ± 1.2 years) appraised, 41.1% were 5Ts-negative and 58.9% were 5Ts-positive (17.6% PT, 19.8% IT and 21.5% CT). Significant differences in negative affectivity, anxiety and stress were observed. However, the variances in coping styles/strategies were largely insignificant. For both 5Ts groups, dysfunctional coping was moderately correlated to negative affectivity/emotions (rs = 0.40–0.52). Conclusions Asian young adults with CT and PT had significantly higher levels of negative affectivity, anxiety and stress than their counterparts with IT and/or NT. Negative affectivity/emotions were associated with the use of dysfunctional coping strategies and anxiety was the main psychological risk factor for TMD symptoms.