title: Perceived stress and bruxism in university students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have shown the correlation between bruxism and stress that affects the quality of life of university students. The present study highlights this correlation-for the first time-in a group of university students in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have investigated the prevalence of awake and asleep bruxism and its correlation with perceived stress in a group of 278 Italian undergraduate students (117 M). A self report questionnaire was constructed using a socio-demographic test, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the item n. 8 of the Fonseca Questionnaire for presence of bruxism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The perceived stress score using PSS-10 scale was 32.2 (SD 4.6, 95% CL 31.6-32.7) for all the subjects, with significant gender difference: M = 31.2 and F = 32.9 (P = 0.0019). The prevalence for awake bruxism was 37.9% (F = 40.8%; M = 34.2%,), while for sleep bruxism was 31.8% (F = 33.3%; M = 29.1%), both without significant gender difference. A positive correlation, with significant concordance and dependence, between stress score and awake bruxism was present for male students only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  University students showed higher bruxism and stress levels compared to the general population, with higher stress for females, but, even if female students show higher stress, a correlation between stress and bruxism exists only for male gender. Further studies should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy. pcavallo@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3111-5241
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.affiliation: Center of Psychological Counseling for Students, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy.
authors.forename: Luna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carpinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Via Allende, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savarese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002012:Bruxism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bruxism; PSS-10; Perceived stress; Student health; University