June 2017

Objective: To investigate the relationship between mental health risk factors and Korean adolescents’ oral health. Basic research design: Cross-sectional study was based on the 9th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2013). Participants: Data were selected for 66,951 adolescents (33,777 males and 33,174 females; aged 13-18 years) out of 72,435 participants were analysed, after excluding cases with missing values. Main outcome measures: Oral health (experience of one or more of six oral symptoms), demographic characteristics (seven factors), and mental health risk (five factors). Method: Logistic regression analysis determined the effects of mental health risk factors on subjects’ oral symptoms after adjustment for general characteristics. Results: The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 1.52 (95%CI 1.50,1.54) for sleep satisfaction self-described as “not sufficient at all” and AOR 2.64 (95%CI 2.59,2.69) for those reporting very high stress levels. The AOR was 1.26 times (95%CI 1.24,1.27) higher for those using the internet on weekends for non-study purposes for >6 hours than those using it for one hour. The AOR for experiencing oral symptoms was 1.44 times (95%CI 1.41,1.47) higher for those who had experienced school violence than for those who had not. Conclusions: Mental health risk factors were associated with oral symptoms. These results should inform the development of school health policies and comprehensive adolescent health promotion programs in Korea Key words: adolescent, mental health, oral health, psychological stress, sleep, Republic of Korea