Journal of Isfahan Dental School

Effect of Listening to Light Music on Salivary Cortisol Secretion in Dental Students

Document Type : مقاله‌های پژوهشی

Authors

1 Dental Student, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Prosthodontic, School of Dentistry, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Postgraduate Student of Orthodontics, Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

4 Student Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Dentist, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: One of the common concerns among dental students is stress during practical exams. Based on the available studies, stress might increase salivary cortisol levels. On the other hand, light music has a significant role in decreasing stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of listening to light music on salivary cortisol levels in dental students.
Materials and methods: In this cross-over study, 20 students of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran were selected using an objective-biased method and divided into two groups of A and B. The subjects were given a practical tooth preparation test. Light music was first played for group A subjects and then for group B subjects. On both exam days, 1 mL of unstimulated salivary samples were collected in a special container from all subjects before and after the exam and 5 minutes after they washed their mouth with water. The samples were sent to the laboratory for measuring salivary cortisol levels. Data were analyzed with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and paired t-test using SPSS 22.
Results: In the group which listened to light music while sitting for the exam in the first week, there was a significant difference in the salivary cortisol levels before and after the first test at around 1.07 ± 1.19 (p value = 0.019), with higher levels of cortisol before the exam. In the second-week group, there was a significant difference in salivary cortisol levels after the first exam at around 0.57 ± 0.29 (p value = 0.001), with higher cortisol levels before the exam.
Conclusion: Listening to light music decreased salivary cortisol levels, indicating lower stress levels.
Key words: Cortisol, Immunology, Music

1. Varma SR, Thomas S, Al Radaideh A, Ergieg S, Fayez E, Malik L. The impact of background music in reducing stress during preclinical dental laboratories. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2019; 9(1): 77-82.
2. Artemiou E, Gilbert G, Sithole F, Koster L. The effects of music during a physical examination skills practice: a pilot study. Veterinary Sciences 2017; 4(4): 48.
3. Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, Finkel L, Ehlert U, Nater UM. The effect of music on the human stress response. PloS one 2013; 8(8): e70156.
4. Lima DP, Diniz DG, Moimaz SAS, Sumida DH, Okamoto AC. Saliva: reflection of the body. Int J Infect Dis 2010; 14(3): e184-e188.
5. Guyton AC, Hall JE. Text book of medical physiology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2005.
6. Bilgert C, Bluhm G, Theorell T. Saliva Cortisol-a new approach in noise research to study stress effects. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2005; 208(3): 227-30.
7. Anyanwu EG. Background music in the dissection laboratory: impact on stress associated with the dissection experience. AJP Advances in Physiology Education 2015; 39(2): 96-101.
8. Evens GW, Lercher P, Meis M, Ising H, Kofler WW. Community noise exposure and stress in children. J Acoust Soc Am 2001; 109: 1023-27.
9. Maruyama Y, Kawano A, Okamoto S, Ando T, Ishitobi Y, et al. Differences in Salivary Alpha-Amylase and Cortisol Responsiveness following Exposure to Electrical Stimulation versus the Trier Social Stress Tests. PLoS ONE 2012; 7(7): e39375.
10. Daniels Beck B, Wigram T, Ole Bonde L, Gold C. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) with adults on sick leave suffering from work-related stress-a mixed methods experimental study [Thesis]. Denmark: Department of Communication and Psychology. Aalborg University; 2012.
11. Makama JG, Amch EA, Equma SA. Music in the operating theatre: opinions of staff and patient of a nigerian teaching hospital. Afr Health Sci 2010; 10(4): 386-9.
12. Tseng YF, Chen CH, Lee CS, Effect listening to music on postpartum stress and anxiety levels. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2010; 19(7-8): 1049-55.
13. Demirbatir E, Bayram N, Bilgel N. Is The healing force of music far away from the undergrade music education students? International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2012; 2(1): 526-36.
Journal of Isfahan Dental School
Volume 16, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September 2020
Pages 278-283