THE JOURNAL OF THE TOKYO DENTAL COLLEGE SOCIETY

Vol. 109 No. 3      June 2009

ISSN: 0037-3710      UBIC: 342-J

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of personality on stress release by chewing. Subjects were given an arithmetic calculation to perform for 30min as stress loading. and then required to chew a tasteless gum base for l0min. and rest for 20min. Saliva specimens were collected immediately after stress loading, chewing and rest. Salivary cortisol levels were measured as an evaluation of stress condition. A personality survey was carried out by questionnaire according to Eysenck on factors of extraversion-introversion and emotional instability-adjustment. Relationship between stress release by chewing and personality factors was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The results showed that items related to activity-inactivity (odds ratio : 0.39) and items related to expressiveness-inhibition (odds ratio: 3.36) were correlated with stress release by chewing. It was clear that the effect of stress release by chewing was greater in cases of a high score on inactivity and expressiveness. (The Shikwa Gakuho, 109 : 283-287, 2009) Key words: mastication, stress, personality, salivary cortisol.

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