RESUMEN
Statement of Problem: The effects of individual variations in coping strategies have been debated in studies of the association between stress and chronic periodontitis, with conflicting results
Purpose: To investigate the associations between stress, coping styles and periodontal disease in a sample of Iranian population
Materials and Method: Forty patients with chronic periodontitis and forty control subjects with a healthy periodontium were enrolled in this study and matched for age and gender. Participants were patients undergoing periodontal treatment at the Department of Periodontics, Guilan University of Medical Sciences. A single examiner performed periodontal examination. Psychological assessments, including the Life Events Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire were done by a second examiner; both examiners were blind to the study. Bi-variate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to compare results for patients and control subjects
Results: Statistically significant differences in the problem-focused coping [p< 0.01], intensity of stress [p< 0.006], as well as escape-avoidance [p< 0.01], and accepting responsibility [p< 0.001] subscales were observed between the patient and control groups. Multivariate logistic regression identified a negative association between periodontitis and tooth-brushing frequency [OR= 3.3, 95% CI: 1.22- 8.69], as well as the accepting responsibility coping style [OR= 1.5, 95% CI: 1.14- 1.98], and a positive association with stress intensity [OR= 1.081, 95% CI: 1.023-1.143]
Conclusion: The results suggest that psychological stress associated with various life events is a significant risk indicator for periodontal disease. Although statistically small, there was a clinically important link between coping strategies and periodontal disease