Abstract
Aims
The relationship between extended working hours and adherence to routine dental check‐ups remains unclear, and whether depressive symptoms act as a potential mediator has yet to be determined. This study aimed to evaluate the association between long working hours and routine dental check‐ups and to assess the mediating effect of depressive symptoms.
Methods
A total of 40,508 participants were included in this cross‐sectional study. Demographic information, psychological factors, frequency of dental check‐ups, and daily working hours were collected through a module‐based electronic questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed to report the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between long working hours and routine dental check‐ups. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the mediating role of psychological factors.
Results
Long working hours were inversely associated with routine dental check‐ups among female workers (OR, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.69–0.99), especially female white‐collar workers (0.78, 0.64–0.94), but not male workers (1.05, 0.83–1.32). Long working hours were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms mediated 6.95% (95% CI 2.09%–34.53%) of the association in females and 5.92% (95% CI 1.92%–18.89%) in female white‐collar workers.
Conclusion
Our study suggested that long working hours affect the psychological status and subsequent utilization of routine dental check‐ups among Chinese female workers. Further longitudinal investigations are warranted to replicate our findings.