Occupational stress is recognized as one of the most significant risk factors affecting both systemic and oral health. Long-term psycho-emotional stress has been associated with alterations in immune function, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, and the progression of inflammatory conditions, including periodontal diseases. Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA), the predominant immunoglobulin in saliva, serves as a key component of the oral mucosal immune defense system. Changes in salivary sIgA concentration may reflect stress-induced immunological alterations and can be considered a non-invasive biomarker of immune status.
Teaching professionals are particularly vulnerable to chronic occupational stress due to high workloads, continuous communication demands, emotional exhaustion, and increased responsibility. Faculty members of medical universities face additional challenges associated with academic activities, scientific research, and clinical responsibilities. Therefore, assessment of salivary sIgA levels in educational professionals may provide valuable information regarding the relationship between occupational stress and local immunity.
To evaluate the relationship between occupational stress and salivary secretory Immunoglobulin A levels among school teachers and faculty members of Samarkand State Medical University.
Materials and Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 90 participants aged 25–65 years. The study population was divided into three groups:
Group 1: 30 secondary school teachers;
Group 2: 30 faculty members of Samarkand State Medical University (SamSMU);
Group 3 (control group): 30 administrative employees without significant teaching-related stress.
Occupational stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Based on questionnaire scores, participants were classified as having low, moderate, or high stress levels.
Unstimulated saliva samples were collected between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. under standardized conditions. Secretory IgA concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were expressed in mg/L. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05.
The mean PSS-10 score among school teachers was 24.8±3.2 points, significantly higher than that of the control group (16.4±2.7 points; p<0.001). Faculty members of SamSMU demonstrated the highest stress levels, with a mean score of 27.6±3.5 points (p<0.001 compared with controls). Analysis of salivary sIgA revealed significant differences among the groups. The mean sIgA concentration in the control group was 198.4±18.7 mg/L. In school teachers, the mean value decreased to 154.6±16.3 mg/L, representing a 22.1% reduction compared with controls (p<0.01). Among SamSMU faculty members, sIgA levels were further reduced to 136.8±15.9 mg/L, corresponding to a 31.0% decrease relative to the control group (p<0.001).
Participants with high occupational stress demonstrated markedly lower sIgA concentrations than individuals with low stress levels (131.4±14.2 mg/L versus 201.7±19.5 mg/L; p<0.001). A significant negative correlation was identified between PSS-10 scores and salivary sIgA levels (r = -0.67, p<0.001), indicating that increasing stress severity was associated with progressive suppression of mucosal immunity.
Furthermore, reduced salivary sIgA concentrations were accompanied by a higher prevalence of oral complaints. Gingival bleeding was reported by 56.7% of school teachers and 63.3% of university faculty members, compared with 23.3% in the control group. Clinical signs of gingival inflammation were observed in 60.0% and 70.0% of participants in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, while only 26.7% of controls demonstrated similar findings.
Subgroup analysis revealed that participants with more than 15 years of teaching experience exhibited significantly lower salivary sIgA concentrations compared with those having less than 10 years of experience (142.3±15.8 mg/L versus 171.9±17.4 mg/L; p<0.05). These findings suggest a cumulative effect of prolonged occupational stress on local immune defense mechanisms.
Discussion The present study demonstrated that occupational stress is associated with significant suppression of salivary secretory Immunoglobulin A production. Faculty members of Samarkand State Medical University exhibited the highest perceived stress scores and the lowest salivary sIgA concentrations among the investigated groups. The observed inverse correlation between stress intensity and sIgA levels confirms the negative impact of chronic psycho-emotional stress on mucosal immunity.
Reduced salivary sIgA may increase susceptibility to oral inflammatory diseases by weakening the first-line immune defense against pathogenic microorganisms. These findings are consistent with previous studies reporting stress-induced dysregulation of immune function and increased vulnerability to periodontal inflammation.
The significantly lower sIgA levels observed among university faculty compared with school teachers may be attributed to additional academic, scientific, and clinical responsibilities, resulting in greater occupational burden and emotional strain.
Occupational stress has a significant negative effect on salivary secretory Immunoglobulin A levels among educational professionals. Faculty members of Samarkand State Medical University demonstrated the highest stress scores and the lowest salivary sIgA concentrations. A strong negative correlation (r = -0.67; p<0.001) was observed between stress severity and salivary immune status. Reduced sIgA levels were associated with a higher prevalence of oral inflammatory manifestations, indicating impaired mucosal immunity.
The findings suggest that salivary secretory Immunoglobulin A may serve as a valuable biomarker for monitoring stress-related immune alterations in teaching professionals. Implementation of occupational stress reduction programs and preventive oral health measures may contribute to improving both general and oral health outcomes in this population.
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