title: Stress experience and effect on self-perceived oral health status among high school students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stress is a common phenomenon in our society. Several studies indicate that stress has an adverse effect on oral condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between stress and self-perceived oral health status among high school students population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design was applied to the study, and a simple random sampling method was used to draw a representative sample of 200 15 to 19-year-old students from Šiauliai Didždvaris gymnasium. This study was based on annonymous self-reported questionaries about self-perceived oral and systemic conditions. The interdependence of characteristics was evaluated by chi-square (χ2) and ANOVA criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  171 participants (85.5%) expierenced stress. 22.5% of the interviewees answered that they have symptoms of the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), 22.5% - bruxism signs, 71.5% - dental decay, 59.5% - gum problems. Increased stress level was related with more frequent bruxism signs. The difference between groups was statistically significant (χ2=13.444; p=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of stress among high school students is high. This study demonstrates that increased stress level might be a risk indicator and have negative outcome to oral health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, J. Lukšos-Daumanto 6, 50106 Kaunas, Lithuania. armankristinaa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arman
authors.forename: Adelė
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petruninaitė
authors.forename: Rūta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grigalauskienė
authors.forename: Eglė
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Slabšinskienė
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002012:Bruxism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult