Stress-related coping styles in myalgic university students: A case control study.

Abstract Background: Patients suffering pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMD) exhibit greater levels of psychological distress, environmental stress, somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, somatic awareness, pain catastrophizing, and impaired pain coping strategies compared to pain-free controls. However, little is known about psychological factors involved in the different TMD types fulfilling DC/TMD criteria. Furthermore, regardless of severity, the role of general coping strategies and styles in TMD is not yet well understood. The main goal of this study was to investigate stress-related coping styles, anxiety and personality traits in a group of dentistry students suffering from temporomandibular disorder with myalgia. Methods: A cohort of 102 university students was initially recruited for this study. Following clinical evaluation, a myalgia group (24 participants) and a control group (25 participants) were formed. Participants were later assessed in anxiety, stress coping strategies, and personality measures by using the State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), coping response inventory (CRI), and Neo Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaires respectively. Results: The myalgia group presented greater levels of trait anxiety and neuroticism in comparison to the control group. Participants with myalgia also showed higher levels of avoidance coping which was the only reliable predictor of TMD. Conclusions: Avoidance coping strategies are generally considered maladaptive, as they seem to increase perceived stress, a robust predictor of TMD. Interventions aimed at reducing stress and anxiety levels, increase emotional stability, and preventing maladaptive coping styles, might improve temporomandibular health and prevent the myalgia and its chronification.