Comment on “job demands and temporomandibular disorders: mediating and moderating effects of psychological distress and recovery experiences”

Abstract

The article by Mori et al. (2023) examines the relationship between job demands, psychological distress, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among Japanese workers, using a cross-sectional survey of 1,278 respondents. The authors report that high job demands are associated with increased TMD prevalence through the mediation of psychological distress, and that relaxation and control moderate this relationship. The study contributes to the literature on the occupational and psychological factors of TMD, and suggests that recovery experiences can mitigate the negative effects of job demands on TMD. However, the study has some limitations, such as the use of self-reported measures, the lack of longitudinal data, and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the results. Therefore, further research is needed to confirm the causal relationships and the generalizability of the findings.