Relationship between Tasks Performed, Personality Traits, and Sleep Bruxism in Brazilian School Children - A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundTasks can be instruments of stress and may affect the health of children. Sleep bruxism is a multifactorial sleep-related movement disorder that affects children and adults. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between children’s tasks, personality traits and sleep bruxism.Methods And FindingsA cross-sectional, population-based study of 652 randomly selected Brazilian schoolchildren (52% of whom were female), aged from 7 to 10 years was conducted in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A questionnaire based on criteria proposed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) was completed by parents. In addition, the Neuroticism and Responsibility sub-scales of the Big Five Questionnaire for Children (BFQ-C) were administered to the children. Psychological tests were administered and evaluated by psychologists. The Social Vulnerability Index from the city council database was used to determine the social classification of the families. Chi-square and Poisson regression statistical tests were used with a 95% confidence interval. The majority of families were classified as having low social vulnerability (61.3%), whereas, 38.7% were classified as having high social vulnerability. Regarding extracurricular activities, the majority of girls performed household work (56.4%) and some artistic activity (51.3%) while sporting activities were most common among boys (61%). The results of the Poisson regression model indicated that sleep bruxism was most prevalent in children who scored highly in the Neuroticism sub-scale, and who frequently performed household tasks.ConclusionChildren whose personality domain has a high level of Neuroticism and who perform household chores imposed by the family are more vulnerable to sleep bruxism.

Factors associated with bruxism in children with developmental disabilities

“…4,6,15,22 No association with age was found, which is in agreement with findings described in previous studies. 1,3,6 Moreover, no association with mouth breathing was observed, although previous studies have found such an association. 16,23 Some variables reported to be associated with bruxism in the literature were not addressed in the present study, such as stress, level of responsibility, 3,15,17,19 excessive salivation, sleep walking, heredity, 13,15 the habit of chewing gum, biting on objects, 19 headache, 24 occlusal factors, impacted food scraps and extensive tooth decay.…”

“…2 In Brazil, the prevalence is 35.3% in the general pediatric population. 3 In children and adolescents with mental health problems (emotional symptoms, behavioral problems, peer problems, hyperactivity, etc. ), the rate ranges from 28.7% to 30.0%.…”

Agreement between two different approaches to assess parent-reported sleep bruxism in children

“…Although none of the questions was assumed as right, the FTQ showed greater coherence with factors already recognized as associated with childhood bruxism, considering behavioral and sleep characteristics 5,8,10,[12][13][14][15] . The AASM recommends the evaluation of the occurrence of audible teeth grinding during the night as a criterion for the definition of PSB 1 , however it does not indicate any validated questionnaire for this purpose.…”

“…The current scientific evidence about bruxism in children present various aspects that are still inconclusive, however, they already indicate that SB is more prevalent in younger children, with worse sleep quality and with anxious 8,9 or nervous behaviors 6,10,11 . Although none of the questions was assumed as right, the FTQ showed greater coherence with factors already recognized as associated with childhood bruxism, considering behavioral and sleep characteristics 5,8,10,[12][13][14][15] .…”

Bruxismo na infância: fatores etiológicos e possíveis fatores de risco

“…5,10 Sua etiologia psicológica está relacionada com a presença de ansiedade, hiperatividade e estresse ligados às tarefas do cotidiano, além de traços de personalidade. 11 Os fatores sistêmicos incluem alterações como a rinite, sinusite, asma e outras complicações respiratórias alérgicas. 12 O fator genético diz respeito à herança genética e sua contribuição substancial no fenótipo do bruxismo.…”