Association Between Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Personality‐Related Issues: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

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Background Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) encompasses pain and functional impairment in the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joint. The etiology of TMD is widely recognized as multifactorial, involving biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Among these, personality‐related issues are frequently identified as a significant risk factors for the onset and progression of TMD. This study aimed to systematically evaluate and quantify the association between TMD and personality‐related issues through a comprehensive systematic review and meta‐analysis. Method A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Wiley, Cochrane, and Embase databases to identify relevant studies up to March 13, 2024. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. A random‐effects model was employed for the meta‐analysis, with standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) serving as measures of effect size. Study heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic, while publication bias was examined using a funnel plot, along with Begg and Egger's tests. Results After removing duplicates, 827 articles were identified, of which 14 studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis revealed a small but statistically significant positive association between temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) and personality‐related issues (SMD = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.55). This finding indicates that TMD is linked to elevated personality disorder scores. However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between TMD and personality traits. Conclusion The findings highlight a weak yet statistically significant positive association between TMD and personality‐related issues. These results underscore the importance of considering psychological factors in the diagnosis and management of TMD to improve patient outcomes.