The prevalence of smartphone, nicotine, and alcohol addiction among university students with temporomandibular disorders

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of smartphone, nicotine, and alcohol addiction among university students with temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMDs) and compare these findings with a control group. METHODS: A total of 909 university students participated. The presence of TMDs was determined according to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs and participants categorized as TMDs and control groups. TMD severity was assessed via the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI). Nicotine addiction was evaluated using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), alcohol dependence with the Addiction Profile Index Risk Scanning Scale (APIRSS), smartphone addiction with the Smartphone Addiction Index-Short Form (SPAI-SF), and depression and anxiety levels using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). RESULTS: Nicotine (p = 0.009), alcohol (p = 0.004), and smartphone (p < 0.001) addictions were more prevalent in students with TMDs. PHQ-4, SPAI-SF, APIRSS, and FTND scores were significantly higher in this group (p < 0.001; p = 0.003 for FTND). Among nicotine-addicted participants, those with TMDs had higher FTND scores than controls (p < 0.007). FAI scores were positively correlated with SPAI-SF (r = 0.283, p < 0.001), FTND (r = 0.147, p < 0.001), APIRSS (r = 0.123, p < 0.001), and PHQ-4 (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) scores. PHQ-4 scores were correlated with SPAI-SF (r = 0.328, p < 0.001), APIRSS (r = 0.125, p < 0.001), and FTND (r = 0.120, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the need for a multidimensional treatment approach in TMDs that consider coexisting addictions.