ABSTRACT

Although Asians are posited to be predisposed to somatization, studies on the inter-relationships between emotional and physical symptoms in Asian youths are still limited. This study determined the associations between emotional, somatic, and Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)-related symptoms in Asian youths. Youths were recruited from a local polytechnic and the prevalence/severity of emotional distress was ascertained with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Somatic and TMD-related symptoms were appraised with the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and Fonseca Anamnestic Index. Data were analysed using non-parametric statistical and logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05). The study sample (n = 400; 209 females) had a mean age of 18.7 ± 1.7 years. Moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, and stress were present in 31.0%, 36.8%, and 16.5% of the subjects respectively. Subjects with moderate-to-severe emotional distress had significantly higher somatic and TMD symptom scores (p < 0.001). Correlations between emotional and somatic/TMD symptom scores were moderately strong (r_s = 0.46–0.61). Stepwise logistic regression indicated that moderate-to-severe somatization was associated with the female gender, anxiety, and stress, and moderate-to-severe TMDs were related to somatization and stress. Asian youths with elevated emotional distress experienced significantly higher levels of somatic and TMD-related symptoms. The stress construct appears to pose a greater risk for somatization and TMDs than depression and anxiety.

摘要

尽管亚洲人被认为具有躯体化倾向，但关于亚洲青年情绪和身体症状之间相互关系的研究仍然有限。本研究确定了亚洲青年的情绪、躯体和颞下颌关节紊乱 (TMD) 相关症状之间的关联。从当地一所理工学院招募青年，并通过抑郁、焦虑和压力量表 21 确定情绪困扰的流行/严重程度。用患者健康问卷 15 和 Fonseca 回忆指数评估躯体和 TMD 相关症状。使用非参数统计和逻辑回归分析对数据进行分析（p < 0.05）。研究样本（n = 400；209 名女性）的平均年龄为 18.7 ± 1.7 岁。31.0%、36.8% 和 16 人出现中度至重度抑郁、焦虑和压力。各占5%的科目。中度至重度情绪困扰的受试者的躯体和 TMD 症状评分显着更高（p < 0.001）。情绪和躯体/TMD症状评分之间的相关性中等强（r _s  = 0.46–0.61)。逐步逻辑回归表明，中度至重度躯体化与女性性别、焦虑和压力有关，中度至重度 TMD 与躯体化和压力有关。情绪困扰的亚洲青年经历了显着更高水平的躯体和 TMD 相关症状。与抑郁和焦虑相比，压力结构似乎对躯体化和 TMD 构成更大的风险。