Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) symptoms and their association with sleep quality and psychological distress in Chinese adolescents.

Methods: Five hundred seventy-eight adolescents were enrolled in the study and completed a self-reported TMD symptom questionnaire and socio-demographics survey. Sleep quality and psychological distress were assessed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed with TMD symptoms as the outcome variable.

Results: The prevalence of adolescents with at least one TMD symptom was 61.4%. One-third of subjects experienced disturbed sleep, depression, and stress; 65.2% experienced anxiety. Subjects with TMD symptoms had greater psychological distress and disturbed sleep than those who were symptom-free. Logistic regression analysis showed that sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction and anxiety were significantly related to TMD symptoms.

Discussion: The prevalence of TMD symptoms in Asian adolescents is high. Disturbed sleep and psychological distress are correlated with TMD; thus, a further longitudinal research of the causality is warranted.