Salivary composition, gender and psychosocial stress.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate salivary composition as an indicator of psychological stress. A group of 26 new Israeli patients in a stress management clinic was studied in an attempt to assess both the effects of long standing trait-related stress as well as that of situational state related stress. Significantly higher state anxiety scores, blood pressure, pulse rate, and lower salivary flow rates were found in the patients before as compared to after the initial psychodiagnostic interview, illustrating the effect of a situational stress. Significantly lower salivary flow rates and elevated total protein concentrations were found in the patients after the interview as compared to healthy controls, illustrating the effect of sympathetic enhancement associated with more stable trait-related psychological stress. Salivary electrolytes (Na and K) and IgA did not differ significantly when the clinical sample was compared to the control group. Although male patients reported lower state anxiety than female patients did, their hemodynamic and salivary composition measures indicated a higher sympathetic arousal, possibly reflecting Israeli male patient difficulties in adapting their distress.