The association between self-reported temporomandibular disorder symptoms and neck disability in university students: a cross-sectional study.
- 1Physiotherapy Programme, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde, Turkey.
- 2Physiotherapy Programme, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde, Turkey. [email protected].
- 3Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Physiotherapy Programme, Zübeyde Hanım Vocational School of Health Sciences, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to assess self-reported Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) symptoms among university students and explore their association with neck disability.Methods
A total of 763 students from Nigde Omer Halisdemir University participated in this study. The participants completed the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) to evaluate ear pain, discomfort in the TMJ and chewing muscles, restrictions in jaw movements, headaches, joint sounds, and emotional stress. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to identify neck disability among the participants.Results
Among the students, 77.1% were female and 22.9% were male, with a mean age of 20.65 ± 3.94 years. 70.4% of the students had no parafunctional habits. The most common parafunctional habit was tongue, cheek, or lip biting (9.4%). The FAI score differed significantly between sexes (30.0 ± 20.09 for females and 20.0 ± 16.57 for males; p < 0.001). The NDI scores were 8.32 ± 5.75 for females and 5.47 ± 5.06 for males, also showing a significant difference (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation (r = 0.597) was found between the students' FAI and NDI scores, with higher FAI scores associated with increased NDI scores.Conclusion
Higher self-reported TMD symptom severity was observed among women, and these symptoms were positively correlated with neck disability. While developing strategies to mitigate the potential development or exacerbation of neck disability, it may be beneficial to consider the factors identified in this study; however, prospective research is required to confirm causal relationships.
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BibTeX
@article{basboga2026association,
title = {{The association between self-reported temporomandibular disorder symptoms and neck disability in university students: a cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Esra Basboğa and Gül Pehlivan Tekin},
journal = {BMC oral health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12903-026-09490-1},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968064},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The association between self-reported temporomandibular disorder symptoms and neck disability in university students: a cross-sectional study.
AU - Esra Basboğa
AU - Gül Pehlivan Tekin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC oral health
DO - 10.1186/s12903-026-09490-1
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968064
AB - Background This study aimed to assess self-reported Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) symptoms among university students and explore their association with neck disability.Methods A total of 763 students from Nigde Omer Halisdemir University participated in this study. The participants completed the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) to evaluate ear pain, discomfort in the TMJ and chewing muscles, restrictions in jaw movements, headaches, joint sounds, and emotional stress. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) was used to identify neck disability among the participants.Results Among the students, 77.1% were female and 22.9% were male, with a mean age of 20.65 ± 3.94 years. 70.4% of the students had no parafunctional habits. The most common parafunctional habit was tongue, cheek, or lip biting (9.4%). The FAI score differed significantly between sexes (30.0 ± 20.09 for females and 20.0 ± 16.57 for males; p < 0.001). The NDI scores were 8.32 ± 5.75 for females and 5.47 ± 5.06 for males, also showing a significant difference (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation (r = 0.597) was found between the students' FAI and NDI scores, with higher FAI scores associated with increased NDI scores.Conclusion Higher self-reported TMD symptom severity was observed among women, and these symptoms were positively correlated with neck disability. While developing strategies to mitigate the potential development or exacerbation of neck disability, it may be beneficial to consider the factors identified in this study; however, prospective research is required to confirm causal relationships.
SN - 1472-6831
ER -