Depression Symptoms as a Mediator Between Long Working Hours and Dental Check-Ups in Chinese Adults

The relationship between extended working hours and adherence to routine dental check-ups remains unclear, and whether depressive symptoms act as a potential mediator has yet to be determined. This study aimed to evaluate the association between long working hours and routine dental check-ups and to assess the mediating effect of depressive symptoms.

A total of 40,508 participants were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic information, psychological factors, frequency of dental check-ups, and daily working hours were collected through a module-based electronic questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed to report the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between long working hours and routine dental check-ups. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the mediating role of psychological factors.

Long working hours were inversely associated with routine dental check-ups among female workers (OR, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.69-0.99), especially female white-collar workers (0.78, 0.64-0.94), but not male workers (1.05, 0.83-1.32). Long working hours were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms mediated 6.95% (95% CI 2.09%-34.53%) of the association in females and 5.92% (95% CI 1.92%-18.89%) in female white-collar workers.

Our study suggested that long working hours affect the psychological status and subsequent utilization of routine dental check-ups among Chinese female workers. Further longitudinal investigations are warranted to replicate our findings.