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Stress and health problems in dentists.
Journal of Dental Practice Administration : JDPA : Official Publication of American Academy of Dental Practice Administration, Organization of Teachers of Dental Practice Administration, American Academy of Dental Group Practice
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Dentists generally experience good health and miss minimal workdays due to illness. While both male and female dentists face similar health risks, women report more headaches, and men tend to consume more alcohol.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Dental Practice
- Psychology
Background:
- Anecdotal evidence suggests dentists face high stress and related health issues.
- Limited systematic research exists on dentist stress and its health impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide current data on stress, coping, and health in a national sample of dentists.
- To compare stress levels and coping mechanisms between male and female dentists.
- To examine the relationship between stress, coping, and health outcomes in dental professionals.
Main Methods:
- A national survey of 238 dentists was conducted.
- Data collected included stress levels, coping strategies, somatic and psychological health problems, workdays missed, and substance use.
- Statistical analysis compared male and female dentists and correlated stress/coping with health outcomes.
Main Results:
- Dentists, overall, reported good health and low rates of illness-related work absence.
- Male and female dentists showed similar vulnerability to health problems, with women reporting more headaches.
- Most dentists used alcohol and/or drugs moderately; men were more likely to consume alcohol, and both sexes used alcohol more frequently than other drugs.
Conclusions:
- Dentists appear to be a generally healthy professional group with effective coping mechanisms.
- While overall health is good, specific gender differences in health complaints (headaches in women) and substance use patterns (alcohol consumption in men) were observed.
- Further research may explore targeted interventions for stress management and health promotion in dental practice.