Temporomandibular disorder pain in older adolescents-young adults: Interrelationship with somatic burden, mental ill-being, and well-being

OBJECTIVES: The associations of Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain with somatic symptoms, mental ill-being/distress, and well-being were explored, along with the mental correlates of TMD (TS) and somatic symptom (SS) burden in older adolescents-young adults. METHODS: TMD/somatic symptoms were appraised with the five quintessential symptoms (5Ts) of the DC/TMD/Somatic Symptom Scale-8, whereas mental distress/well-being was assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21/Scales of Psychological Well-being-18. Data were examined using Chi-square/non-parametric tests and multivariate analyses (α = .05). RESULTS: Among the 366 participants, 51.4%, 28.1%, 6.8%, and 13.7% had no TMD (NT), TMD pain (TP), TMD dysfunction (TD), and combined TMD (CT) respectively. Though mental distress varied substantially (CT, TP>NT, TD), no significant differences in well-being were discerned. SS burden, but not TS burden, was moderately correlated to distress. CONCLUSIONS: The prospect of TMD pain was increased by being female, depressed, and anxious but reduced by "positive relations with others" and "self-acceptance".