Abstract
Both oxidative and psychological (mental) stress are the likely culprits for several acute and chronic health disturbances, and adequate tests mimicking that are needed. Herein, in controlled laboratory surroundings, a PEBL (Psychology Experiment Building Language) test battery was used to evoke stress-related biological responses followed by tracking changes in saliva parameters. The study objectives were to determine the impact of psychological stress on selected salivatory parameters and to assess the correlation between the determined oxidative and stress parameters. The study was conducted on 36 healthy young subjects, mainly females (n = 24). Before and following the completion of a battery of four PEBL tests, subjects' saliva samples were collected. Stress-evoking changes in total antioxidant capacity and nitrite/nitrate levels, as oxidative stress parameters, and cortisol and immunoglobulin A (IgA), as parameters of psychological stress, were established and mutually correlated by comparing the values of the evaluated parameters pre- and post-PEBL test. The results showed that there is no change in the total salivary antioxidant capacity (p > 0.05); however, there was a significant increase in nitrites/nitrates levels after the PEBL test (p = 0.007). On the other hand, the determined cortisol levels after the test battery were found to be statistically significantly increased (p = 0.025) when compared to the values obtained before the test, while the levels of IgA were found to be statistically significantly decreased (p < 0.001). The only statistically significant correlation between the changes in the studied parameters was found to be the one between cortisol and IgA levels (Spearman's Rö = -0.4). These results suggest that the short-term stress induced by the PEBL test does evoke changes in the salivary mental stress-related parameters (an increase in cortisol and nitrite/nitrate levels, and a decrease in IgA), but not in the total antioxidant capacity. They also indicate that the constructed PEBL four-test battery might represent an adequate laboratory stress-inducing paradigm.
Highlights
In the modern world, stress is believed to be a part of everyday life and might be regarded as a culprit for a great number of acute and chronic health disturbances [1]
Cortisol salivary levels were found to be statistically significantly increased after the PEBL test battery with moderate effect size, while the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) were found to be statistically significantly decreased, with strong effect size, after the test (Table 2)
We found that the estimated salivary concentrations of NO2-/NO3- were statistically significantly increased after the PEBL test battery, with a moderate effect size (Table 2)
Summary
Stress is believed to be a part of everyday life and might be regarded as a culprit for a great number of acute and chronic health disturbances [1]. There are numerous definitions of stress, and stress has a different meaning for different people under different conditions [2]. Stress is regarded as the “perception of threat, with resulting anxiety discomfort, emotional tension, and difficulty in adjustment,” while in terms of neuroendocrinology, stress can be defined as any stimulus that provokes a release. Regardless of what the definition of stress is, no one can overlook the immense impact of stress on human health and daily functioning [1]. Mild stress can be quite useful since it may enhance task and cognitive performance; on the other hand, constant and high-intensity stress leads to anxiety and depression [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
