Relationship Between Self-Reported Bruxism and Perceived Stress Among Brazilian Health Science Students

Investigate the relationship between perceived stress and self-reported bruxism among health science students, as well as to map the instruments used to assess both variables.

A total of 545 students from health science programs at the UNIFAL-MG participated in this cross-sectional study, which used the Self-Reported Bruxism Questionnaire (SRBQ) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) for data collection. The data were analysed descriptively and subsequently using a General Linear Model analysis with repeated measures. Simultaneously, a scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. This review included a comprehensive bibliographic search across the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases.

The search was performed in accordance with pre-defined eligibility criteria, resulting in the inclusion of 11 studies. The analysis revealed that students with higher stress scores tended to report more bruxism symptoms. This pattern was defined by a statistically significant association between self-reported bruxism and perceived stress and was predominantly observed among young adult females. Moreover, the study highlighted the widespread use of validated scales for stress assessment, such as the PSS in its 10- and 14-item versions. Furthermore, the largest number of publications (n = 6) were related to dental students. Bruxism was mainly assessed through self-report instruments like the SRBQ, often supported by clinical data, which enhances the reliability of the findings.

Therefore, the findings emphasize the importance of institutional strategies focused on psychological support and stress management, aiming to promote well-being and mitigate the impacts of bruxism among university students.