Is there a relationship between psychological factors and TMD?

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Medical students face significant stress, impacting academic performance and health.
• High anxiety levels in students are linked to various health issues.
• Understanding the interplay of stress, coherence, and oral health is crucial for student well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral parafunctions in medical students.
• To evaluate the intensity of stress manifestations using the 4DSQ (self-report questionnaire) and sense of coherence (SOC).
• To examine the relationship between psychosocial stress, sense of coherence, and gender in medical students.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 324 students from Poznań University of Medical Sciences.
• Assessment using a three-part questionnaire: TMD symptoms, 4DSQ for distress, and SOC Questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis to determine prevalence and relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• Approximately one-third of students reported TMD symptoms and higher distress levels (anxiety, somatization, depression).
• Students with TMD symptoms exhibited more somatic symptoms and a lower sense of coherence.
• A significant negative correlation was found between sense of coherence and perceived distress.

Conclusions:

• A strong negative relationship exists between sense of coherence and psychological distress in medical students.
• Female students reported higher somatization but demonstrated greater resilience.
• Interventions promoting a stronger sense of coherence may mitigate stress and TMD risk in medical students.