Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 69, Issue 3 , Pages 289-298, September 2010

The association between tinnitus and mental health in a general population sample: Results from the HUNT Study☆☆☆

  • Norun Hjertager Krog

      Affiliations

    • Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Division of Mental Health, Department of Psychosomatics and Health Behaviour, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404, Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. Tel.: +47 21 07 83 62; fax: +47 21 07 81 01.
    • ,
  • Bo Engdahl

      Affiliations

    • Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
    • ,
  • Kristian Tambs

      Affiliations

    • Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
    • Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Received 22 April 2009; received in revised form 16 March 2010; accepted 16 March 2010. published online 22 April 2010.

Abstract 

Objectives

Clinical studies indicate a strong association between tinnitus and mental health, but results from general population data are missing. The purpose of the study was to examine the association between tinnitus, mental health, and well-being in the general adult population and to identify factors that might mediate and moderate this association.

Methods

Data from 51,574 adults participating in the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study (1995–1997), part of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT-2), were analyzed. The association between tinnitus symptom intensity and symptoms of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and subjective well-being was examined by multivariate ANOVA, stratified by age group and sex. Explanatory variables were age, marital status, education, hearing, dizziness, vision, physical disability, and somatic illness. In a subsample of participants with tinnitus, the effects of “time since onset,” “predictability of tinnitus episodes,” and “noise sensitivity” were tested.

Results

Participants with tinnitus scored significantly higher on anxiety and depression and lower on self-esteem and well-being than people without tinnitus. The effect sizes were small and quite similar across levels of tinnitus symptom intensity. No significant effect of time since onset was found. A significant effect of predictability of tinnitus episodes and noise sensitivity was found in some groups.

Conclusion

A weak association between tinnitus and mental health was found in this general population study.

Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, General population study, Mental health, Tinnitus, Well-being

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☆ The Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study, which is part of Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, (HUNT) was funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), research contract no. N01-DC-6-2104, and by the Norwegian Research Council. The present work was supported by The Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation. HUNT was conducted in collaboration between the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the National Health Screening Service, Nord-Trøndelag County Council, and the Norwegian University of Technology and Science. Drs. H.J. Hoffman (NIDCD), H.M. Borchgrevink, and J. Holmen participated in the planning and administration of the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study. The Nord-Trøndelag County Health Officer and the Community Health Officer in Levanger and in other municipalities provided organizational and other practical support.

☆☆ Human participant protection: This study was approved by the Data Inspectorate of Norway and recommended by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics.

PII: S0022-3999(10)00125-X

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.03.008

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 69, Issue 3 , Pages 289-298, September 2010

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