Association of Tooth Loss with Psychosocial Factors in Male Japanese Employees

Association of Tooth Loss with Psychosocia l 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 20– 59 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, joband 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. (J Occup Health 2001; 43: 351–355)