Association of sleep time, stress, and depression with the oral health status of Korean adolescents / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the association between the stress or depression and oral health status of Korean adolescents. METHODS: The subjects were 1,180 participants of the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), aged 12 to 18 years. All the collected data were analyzed by using the chi-square test, t test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis with the SAS version 9.3 software. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship of stress or depression to oral health status, and 95% confidence intervals were computed. RESULTS: Cognitive stress and depression levels for >2 weeks correlated with permanent teeth caries index. In terms of cognitive status, oral health of "a little feeling" was poorer than that of "almost no feeling," with significant statistical difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides further evidence to support the establishment of a school oral health clinic for adolescents and hopefully provide guidance in the planning for oral health education.