impact of final primary schools1 examinations on salivary Immunoglobulin A of Tehranian students in 2005

Final examinations are important stressors in schools and universities that result in different psychoneuroimmunological outcomes but the study of these effects on children has not been paid enough attention to. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of final examinations on salivary immunoglubulin A in children. In this clinical trial a total of 100 children [50 boys, 50 girls] in 5[th] grade, aged less than 12 years from two primary schools of 5[th] educational district in Tehran were choosen randomly. The subjects completed Test Anxiety Scales of Sarason and Abolghasemi. After making sure of their physical and mental health by reviewing their medical history, clinical examinations and after controlling sleep, food, drug and sport variables, based on time series design, salivary IgA samples were taken five times as followed: one week before and then three times through mathematics, history and science exams and at last one week after passing the exams at, 9 to 10 am IgA samples were analyzed by nephlometry method. Data was analyzed using ANOVA. Findings indicated that IgA level was decreased significantly during examinations comparing to IgA levels before and after examinations [p=0.0l]. The relations of sex and anxiety scores were not statistically significant. It means that decreased IgA levels are the same in all children. Final examinations as a stress resource, diminishes IgA and this change is not related to sex and test anxiety score

[ effect of examination stress on changes of salivary cortisol and pulse rate in children and the role of presonality traits on them]

Examinations are among the most important stressors in schools and universities that result to psycho physiological outcomes but these effects on children has not been paid much attention. This study was done to determine the effect of stress of final examinations on the activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis [change of salivary cortisol] and autonomous nervous system [pulse rate] in children. A total of 100 children [50 boys, 50 girls] in 5th grade aged less than 12 years from two primary schools of five educational district in Tehran were chosen randomly. The subjects completed Adolescent's Eysenck personality inventory. Physical and mental health was reviewed the medical history, clinical examinations and after controlling sleep, food, drug and sport variables, salivary samples and pulse rates were taken five times as follows: once a week before and then three times through mathematics, history and science exams and once a week after passing the exams at 9 to 10 am.Salivary cortisol samples were analysed by ELISA method. Cortisol levels increased significantly during examinations in compare with cortisol levels before and after examinations. Depending to sex, psychoticism, neuroticism and extroversion -introversion variables, only the effect of psychoticism and extroversion -introversion are statistically significant [P<0.05]. Also repeated analysis of variance for pulse rate indicated the increase rate of later factor [P<0.05]. Final examinations as a stressor resource increase salivary cortisol and pulse rates of children. Personality factors can modulate the effect of examinations on salivary cortisol. Sex also modulates pulse rates increasing during academic examinations