Self‐report of temporomandibular joint clicking and psychological factors: is there an association?

Summary The objectives of this study were to test the hypothesis that self‐reported TMJ clicking sounds in adolescents are positively associated with non‐specific somatic symptoms, self‐perception of body image and care‐seeking behaviour. A cross‐sectional study was carried out in 353 young adolescents (48·4% females) recruited from community ( N = 272) and orthodontic clinic ( N = 81) settings. Assessments included self‐reported TMJ clicking, non‐specific physical symptoms, body image concerns and for the clinic sample only, the source of motivation for treatment. TMJ sounds were self‐reported by 19% of the sample and were associated with higher scores for non‐specific physical symptoms and body image concerns ( P < 0·001). Adolescents who were self‐motivated to seek orthodontic treatment had greater scores for non‐specific physical symptoms, more body image concerns and tended to report TMJ sounds more often (26·3% and 7·7% respectively; P = 0·41) than those who were solely parent/family‐motivated to seek treatment. Self‐reported TMJ sounds in adolescents were associated with a propensity to somatisation and concerns with body image. Care‐seeking adolescents have greater non‐specific physical symptoms and body image concerns and tend to report more frequent TMJ sounds.