Evaluation of Anxiety Levels in Children and Their Mothers and Appearance of Sleep Bruxism in Turkish Children and Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aims: To evaluate the anxiety of children and their mothers in relation to sleep bruxism (SB) and associated risk factors.

Methods: A total of 96 children (48 with and 48 without bruxism) and their mothers participated in this study. A form with comprehensive history and oral and parafunctional habits associated with SB was used. Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders (SCARED) was used to measure anxiety in children. The anxiety levels of the mothers were evaluated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). SPSS version 21.0 was used for the analyses. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical data. Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of continuous data, and multiple logistic regression model was applied to detect the real factors associated with SB.

Results: The comparisons of SCARED total (P = .005), factor 3 (separation anxiety; P = .015), factor 4 (social anxiety; P = .011) and factor 5 (school fear; P = .005) showed significant differences between groups. State anxiety scores of the mothers were significantly higher in the bruxism group (P < .001). Statistically significant differences were seen for learning/behavioral/anger problems, mouth breathing, snoring, bad breath, parasitic infections, sleep difficulty, chewing a pen or pencil, and sleeping in their own room (P < .05). The real risk factors associated with SB were learning/behavioral/anger problems, an experience causing stress, snoring, and increased anxiety levels of mothers and children.

Conclusion: Elevated anxiety levels of mother or children, learning/behavioral/anger problems, experience causing stress, and snoring increased the risk of having SB in children.