Association between psychosocial factors and periodontitis: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Psychology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Periodontitis is a common oral disease with multifactorial causes.
• Psychosocial factors, including stress, anxiety, and depression, are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to various health conditions.
• The relationship between periodontitis and psychological well-being requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between life events, anxiety, and depression with periodontitis in a case-control study.
• To determine if psychosocial factors are independent risk factors for periodontitis.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 165 participants aged 35-60 years.
• Cases (n=96) had periodontitis, while controls (n=69) did not.
• Psychological assessments included the Life Events Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory.

Main Results:

• Periodontitis was significantly associated with older age, male gender, smoking, and lower educational level.
• Bivariate analysis showed no significant differences in life events, anxiety, or depression between cases and controls.
• Multivariate logistic regression, after controlling for confounding factors, revealed no significant association between the analyzed psychosocial factors and periodontal disease.

Conclusions:

• This study found no significant association between periodontitis and the psychosocial factors investigated (life events, anxiety, depression).
• Psychosocial well-being does not appear to be a significant independent risk factor for periodontitis based on these findings.
• Further research may explore other potential psychological or lifestyle factors influencing periodontitis risk.