Association between occupational stress of dentists in private dental clinics and their depression, anxiety and sleep

Objective To investigate the occupational stress of dentists in private dental clinics in Guangzhou City and its association with depression, anxiety and sleep.

Methods A total of 195 dentists were studied and their occupational stress and psychological pressure were assessed by using a physician work stress scale (including work factors, patient factors, and clinical responsibility/judgment factors) and the PEPSI-K, respectively.The mental health status, including depression score (CES-D score), anxiety index (STAI) and sleep quality index (PSQI) were assessed with a subjective questionnaire.Multiple regression methods were used to analyze the association of occupational stress, psychological stress and mental health.

Results Their average score of physician work stress scale was (3.11±0.63).The abnormal rates of BEPSI-K, CES-D, STAI-S, and PSQI scales were 52.3%, 41.5%, 13.3%, and 53.8%, respectively.The CES-D was significantly associated with psychological pressure and physician work stress (patient factors and clinical responsibility/judgment factors)(P < 0.01);STAI-S was significantly associated with alcohol consumption, psychological stress, and physician work stress (patient factors and clinical liability/judgment factors)(P < 0.01);PSQI was significantly associated with psychological pressure and physician work stress (patient factors and clinical liability/judgment factors)(P < 0.01).

Conclusion The problem of occupational stress and psychological stress of dentists in private dental clinics in Guangzhou was serious, and the psychological stress resulted from worry about the doctor-patient relationship.Both occupational stress and psychological stress might cause depression, anxiety, and decreased sleep quality.The attention should be given to dentists in order to prevent mental disorders caused by work stress.