Salivary biomarkers associated with academic assessment stress among dental undergraduates.
This study aims to assess the difference in self-perceived stress before and after an academic assessment and its association with the marks scored and to study the association of salivary cortisol, Immunoglobulin A (IgA), and chromogranin A (CgA) with stress levels before and after the assessment. Thirty-one third-year dental undergraduates indicated how stressed they felt on a 5-point rating scale just prior to and immediately after a one-hour written test. Five-minute unstimulated whole saliva samples were also collected at those times to measure salivary cortisol, IgA, and CgA. Students rated significantly higher stress scores before (median [inter quartile range]: 3[1]), compared to after the test (2[2]) (p = 0.015). Higher cortisol levels (mean: 6.32 nmol/l) were observed before than after the exam (mean: 5.16 nmol/l) (p = 0.015). No significant differences were noted between the pre- and post-test saliva samples for salivary IgA and CgA levels. A negative correlation was seen between post-test stress scores and test marks (Spearman's r = -0.325, p = 0.07). Dental students perceived a higher level of stress prior to the test, which declined after that. Pre-test stress scores were associated with raised salivary cortisol, but not IgA or CgA. Students who perceived higher levels of stress after the test generally had poorer results.
Ng
Vivian
V
Department of Community, Occupational, and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Koh
David
D
Mok
Betty Y Y
BY
Chia
Sin-Eng
SE
Lim
Lum-Peng
LP
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012846:Singapore; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D006854:Hydrocortisone