A structural equation model to assess the influence of neuroticism on oral health-related quality of life in complete denture wearers

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the influence of patient neuroticism on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in complete denture wearers.

Background: There are some indicators of complete denture prognosis. The relationship between personality traits, mainly neuroticism and OHRQoL in complete denture wearers remains unclear.

Materials and methods: A total of 199 edentulous patients participated in this study. Neuroticism was investigated using the Japanese version of the modified short form of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (MS-EPQ). OHRQoL was measured according to the Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous subjects (OHIP-EDENT-J). Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the relationship between neuroticism and subscales of the OHIP-EDENT-J.

Results: The High and Low neuroticism groups fit the same model for the 5 subscales of the OHIP-EDENT-J-functional limitation, pain, disability, discomfort and handicap-with different path coefficients. The path from functional limitation to handicap via pain, disability and discomfort was the same as previously reported. However, path coefficients for pain to disability differed significantly between the 2 neuroticism groups. The High neuroticism group had higher estimated path coefficients for Pain compared with those for other subscales than did the Low neuroticism group. This finding indicates that the participants who are high in neuroticism felt pain more strongly, and their disability increased.

Conclusions: Neuroticism may influence OHRQoL in complete denture wearers because of patients' perception of pain.

Keywords: complete dentures; neuroticism; oral health-related quality of life; personality; predictive factor.