Psychological factors and oral health during initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate associations between oral health and psychological factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and resilience) in a group of Chinese individuals who had sought an intervention online during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, online questionnaires were created using online survey software from set items of instruments commonly used to assess depression, anxiety, and resilience combined with an oral health survey. The study was conducted from March 13 to 16, 2020. RESULTS: 568 participants (188 men and 380 women) with a mean ± SD age of 41.7 ± 10.2 years were included in the analyses. In total, 152 (27%) participants were from Beijing, 149 (26%) from Wuhan, 110 (19%) from Shenyang, and 157 (28%) from other Chinese cities. Halitosis and bleeding gums were the most common reasons for individuals to seek an intervention. Compared with other cities, participants from Wuhan showed higher anxiety and depression and worse previous oral health. Resilience mediated the relationship between depression and oral health, but not between anxiety and oral health. CONCLUSION: We hope that the data from this study will inform clinical practitioners and demonstrate that mental health awareness and resilience training are important strategies that may mitigate the negative impact of lockdown and isolation on oral health.