Open AccessAssociation of Tooth Loss with Psychosocial Factors in Male Japanese Employees
Author(s) -
Hayasht Naoji,
Tamagawa Hiroo,
Tanaka Muneo,
Hanioka Takashi,
Maruyama Soichiro,
Takeshita Tatsuya,
Morimoto Kanehisa,
Shizukuishi Satoshi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.43.351
Subject(s) - psychosocial , tooth loss , alexithymia , medicine , personality , oral health , depression (economics) , demography , gerontology , dentistry , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Association of Tooth Loss with Psychosocial Factors in Male Japanese Employees: Naoji Hayashi, et al. Department of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University —It would seem that good psychosocial conditions would have a positive effect on oral health, but few data exist regarding the association of psychosocial factors with tooth loss. The association between psychosocial factors and tooth loss was studied in male industrial workers in Japan. In an annual health checkup, tooth loss status was assessed by oral examination in 252 workers (age 2059 yr). Information pertaining to psychosocial factors, lifestyle and oral health behavior was also obtained through a self‐administered questionnaire. The mean tooth loss per worker showed a significant increasing trend with age. Mean tooth loss was 0.32 in the 20‐29‐yr‐old group, 0.82 in the 30‐39‐yr‐old group, 1.28 in the 40‐49‐yr‐old group and 2.91 in the 50‐59‐yr‐old group. Bivariate analyses revealed that age (P<0.01) and alexithymia (P<0.05) were significantly associated with tooth loss. In contrast, work stress, depression, type A behavior, job‐ and life‐satisfaction were not significantly associated with tooth loss. In multivariate analyses, the associations of age (P<0.02) and alexithymia (P<0.05) remained statistically significant after adjustment for oral health behavior and lifestyle variables. We suggest that an alexithymic personality may affect tooth loss status in male employees.