Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Reported Oral Health Status Are Associated with Change in Self-Reported Depression Status: A Cohort Study

Sep 30, 2026

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may shape mental health, yet longitudinal evidence linking it to depression is limited. This cohort study used Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey data from 2022–2023, including 15,068 adults without depression at baseline. Depression status was self-reported across two waves, and logistic regression estimated odds of depression status change with 95% confidence intervals. Poorer OHRQoL and multiple psychosocial and health factors were associated with subsequent changes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background on depression burden and risk factors

Prior evidence linking depression and oral health

Study rationale and objectives

Article Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Reported Oral Health Status Are Associated with Change in Self-Reported Depression Status: A Cohort Study Noriko Takeuchi 1, *, Takayuki Maruyama 2, Naoki Toyama 2, Yuzuki Katsube 3, Takahiro Tabuchi 4 and Daisuke Ekuni 2 Academic Editor: Stefano Fedeleand Agostino Guida Received: 5 November 2025 Revised: 15 December 2025 Accepted: 29 December 2025 Published: 4 January 2026 Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Division of Dentistry, Medical Development Field, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan 2 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; [t-maru@md.okayama-u.ac.jp](t-maru@md.okayama-u.ac.jp) (T.M.); [pu171qxi@s.okayama-u.ac.jp](pu171qxi@s.okayama-u.ac.jp) (N.T.); [dekuni7@md.okayama-u.ac.jp](dekuni7@md.okayama-u.ac.jp) (D.E.) 3 Dental School, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; [p37s2kfk@s.okayama-u.ac.jp](p37s2kfk@s.okayama-u.ac.jp) 4 Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; [tabuchitak@gmail.com](tabuchitak@gmail.com) * Correspondence: [takeuti@md.okayama-u.ac.jp](takeuti@md.okayama-u.ac.jp) Abstract Background/Objectives: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may influence mental health outcomes, yet longitudinal evidence on its association with depression remains limited. This study aimed to examine whether oral health status and OHRQoL are associated with a change in self-reported depression status among adults in Japan. Methods: We analyzed data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), conducted in 2022 and 2023 . A total of 15,068 participants aged ≥20 years without depression at baseline were included. Depression status was identified by self-reported measures between the two survey waves. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for change in self-reported depression status in relation to OHRQoLand oral health status, adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Results: During follow-up, 218 participants (1.45%) reported a change in self-reported depression status. Poorer OHRQoL was significantly associated with a change in self-reported depression status (OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 1.001–1.036; p = 0.039) . Additional risk factors included younger age (OR: 0.974; 95% CI: 0.964–0.985), participation in hobbies and cultural activities (OR: 2.224; 95% CI: 1.498–3.302), habitual use of sleeping pills or anxiolytics (current use OR: 3.512; 95% CI: 2.267–5.442), increased loneliness (OR: 1.217; 95% CI: 1.140–1.299), lower life satisfaction (OR: 0.900; 95% CI: 0.836–0.969), and poor self-rated health (OR: 2.921; 95% CI: 1.810–4.715) . Conclusions: Impaired OHRQoL was associated with a change in selfreported depression status, potentially through psychosocial mechanisms. These findings suggest that oral health and OHRQoL may be relevant factors to consider in integrated oral and mental health approaches in clinical practice. Keywords: oral health-related quality of life; depression status; cohort study 1. Introduction Depressive disorders are recognized as a major cause of adverse health effects from early adulthood to old age [1], with over 330 million people affected worldwide [2] . In recent years, there has been increasing global concern regarding mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. According to the disability-adjusted life years metric developed by the World Health Organization, depression ranked third in 2004, is projected to rise to second by 2020, and to become the leading cause of adverse health effects by 2030 [3] . This indi

FAQs

What was the study aim?

To examine whether oral health status and oral health-related quality of life are associated with changes in self-reported depression status among adults in Japan.

How were participants and depression status measured?

The study analyzed Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey data from 2022 and 2023. Depression status was identified using self-reported measures at two survey waves.

What factors were associated with a change in self-reported depression status?

Poorer OHRQoL showed a significant association. Additional factors included younger age, participation in hobbies and cultural activities, habitual use of sleeping pills or anxiolytics, increased loneliness, lower life satisfaction, and poor self-rated health.

Sep 30, 2026

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