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Published on: December 18, 2013
Possible sleep bruxism and hair cortisol in children: A birth cohort study
Laís Anschau Pauli1, Joseph Murray2, Luciana Tovo-Rodrigues2
1Graduate Program in Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Insights
Chronic stress, measured by hair cortisol, was not associated with sleep bruxism in children. However, factors like maternal education and child behavior influenced bruxism occurrence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep bruxism is a common condition in children.
- Chronic stress is a potential contributing factor to sleep bruxism.
- Hair cortisol concentration serves as a biomarker for chronic stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hair cortisol levels and sleep bruxism in children.
- To identify factors associated with sleep bruxism in a large pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 3229 children in the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study.
- Assessment of sleep bruxism via caregiver reports at age 4.
- Quantification of hair cortisol concentration using standardized hormone extraction and analysis.
- Statistical analysis using Poisson regression with robust variance.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between hair cortisol concentration and the occurrence of sleep bruxism.
- Sleep bruxism was associated with higher maternal education, maternal stress, excessive electronic device use, and child emotional/behavioral problems.
- Female sex was associated with a lower frequency of sleep bruxism.
Conclusions:
- Chronic stress, as indicated by hair cortisol, does not appear to be directly associated with sleep bruxism in children.
- Sociodemographic factors, maternal stress, screen time, and child mental health play significant roles in the development of childhood sleep bruxism.
Abstract:
This study aimed to test for an association between hair cortisol, as an indicator of chronic stress, and possible sleep bruxism among children participating in the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. Data from 3229 children were analysed. Possible sleep bruxism was identified based on caregivers' reports when the child was 4 years old. Trained fieldworkers collected hair samples from children, and a standardized protocol was used for hormone extraction and cortisol quantification from the hair. Information on socioeconomic, demographic, psychological and behavioural characteristics was gathered through questionnaires. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to evaluate the impact of hair cortisol concentration on the occurrence of possible sleep bruxism, guided by a directed acyclic graph. The prevalence of possible sleep bruxism was 21.46% (n = 693); median hair cortisol concentration was 7.8 pg mg-1. Hair cortisol concentration was not found to be associated with the occurrence of sleep bruxism. However, the presence of sleep bruxism was linked to higher maternal education (p = 0.027), maternal stress level (p = 0.032), excessive use of electronic devices (p = 0.007), and child emotional and behavioural problems (p = 0.003). Furthermore, female sex was associated with a lower frequency of possible sleep bruxism (p = 0.003). There was no association between chronic stress, as measured by hair cortisol concentration, and the occurrence of possible sleep bruxism. This study underscores the role of sociodemographic factors and children's mental health in the occurrence of sleep bruxism among children in this population.
