The role of affective temperaments on depressive rumination in individuals with bruxism

Bruxism, defined as the grinding or clenching of teeth, is a multifactorial condition whose etiology involves both psychological and psychopathological aspects. In particular, it has been associated with variables such as anxiety, depression, and ruminative thinking. The aim of the present study is to examine the psychological characteristics associated with bruxism, with a particular focus on affective temperaments and depressive rumination. The subjects recruited from the general population were assessed through an online survey including the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Group differences were analyzed using the student’s t-test for independent samples. Furthermore, a linear regression analysis was performed, thereby considering the RRS as the dependent variable and the TEMPS-A temperament dimensions as independent variables, in order to identify which temperamental profiles could explain depressive rumination in individuals with bruxism. The analyses revealed significant gender differences in the cyclothymic and anxious temperaments, as well as in the “Brooding” and “Depression” dimensions of the RRS. A regression analysis further indicated that cyclothymic and depressive temperaments predicted “Brooding” and “Depression”, whereas only the cyclothymic temperament emerged as a predictor of “Reflection”. These findings highlight the relevance of affective temperaments and depressive rumination in the psychological profile of patients with bruxism, thus underlining their importance for clinical practice.