ASSESSMENT OF MINDFULNESS TRAIT INFLUENCE ON THE FREQUENCY OF AWAKE BRUXISM EPISODES

• Grant number: 24/08444-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Laís Valencise Magri
• Grantee: Nykolas Jorge Silva Castaldi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Awake bruxism is defined as an activity of the masticatory muscles, whose episode frequency is influenced by psychological and behavioral factors. The mindfulness trait seeks connection with the present moment without judgment and may be a valid strategy for managing awake bruxism; however, no studies have addressed this topic. The general objective of this project is to investigate whether the mindfulness trait influences the frequency of wakeful bruxism episodes. The intended sample will consist of 76 dental students (aged >18 years) who will be invited to complete a structured questionnaire with questions inspired by the BruxScreen protocol, Anxiety and Depression Screening, and Coping (questionnaires inspired by the STAB). Subsequently, they will be invited to participate in an Ecological Momentary Assessment using the BruxAppÓ mobile application for one week to categorize and evaluate the frequency of wakeful bruxism. The planned analyses include: intergroup comparative test in Stage 1 (chi-square depending on the sample distribution) - comparison between groups with high and low levels of mindfulness (separated by the median) regarding the data from questions inspired by BruxScreen and the Anxiety, Depression, and Coping Screening (questionnaires inspired by the STAB), and logistic regression to assess the probability of wakeful bruxism during the Ecological Momentary Assessment, based on the independent variable of mindfulness trait, with the determination of Odds ratios, and a significance level of 5% will be adopted.