Table 2_Mapping the evidence on oral behaviors and mental health: a scoping review with implications for integrated oral healthcare.docx

Most were cross-sectional and showed substantial heterogeneity in terminology, assessment methods, and psychological constructs examined. While five studies reported no significant associations, the majority identified associations between oral behaviors and multiple analytical domains of psychological factors. The analytical domains “anxiety–obsessive/compulsive” and “mood/affective” were the most frequently represented among reported associations, particularly in studies of awake bruxism and nail-biting.

Additional associations were reported with somatic symptom disorders, personality traits, emotional processing, and cognitive–executive functioning.</p>Conclusion<p>Current evidence suggests that oral behaviors are associated with psychological factors spanning multiple analytical domains, particularly “anxiety and obsessive–compulsive symptoms” and “mood and affective symptoms”. However, the evidence base remains predominantly cross-sectional and methodologically heterogeneous, limiting causal inference, comparisons across studies, and the certainty with which these associations can be interpreted.</p>