• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.511-519
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• 2021

This study examined the effects of the levels of depression and oral health on the quality of life in workers participating in a self-sufficiency program in the Seoul metropolitan area. As for the study method, a questionnaire survey was conducted from July 26 to September 5, 2020, targeting 569 workers participating in a self-sufficiency program. Depression, Perio-Quotient Index, self-diagnosed oral symptoms, and oral health quality of life were the survey items investigated. The results were as follows. In the workers with systemic diseases, depression, Perio-Quotient Index, oral symptoms, and oral health quality of life were all negative. The level of depression was highly negative in both Perio-Quotient Index, oral symptoms, and oral health quality of life, showing statistically significant differences. In addition, depression showed a strong negative correlation with the Perio-Quotient Index, oral symptoms, and oral health quality of life. Depression, Perio-Quotient Index, and particularly oral symptoms negatively affected oral health and the quality of life. As workers participating in a self-sufficiency program are vulnerable to oral health problems, oral health education is required for the correct awareness and management of oral health, and oral health policy improvement for socially vulnerable groups is essential to ensure continued oral health management.