Can stress worsen tinnitus?

Our results show that tinnitus severity is predicted mainly by: mood (anxiety, depression), neuroticism (i.e., personality trait characterized by a tendency to respond with negative emotions to threat, frustration, or loss27), sleep, and life stressors. This result is in line with the literature that has extensively associated severe tinnitus with stress, depression, personality traits, and sleep disorders1,5,12,28. Hobeika L, Fillingim M, Tanguay-Sabourin C, Roy M, Londero A, Samson S, Vachon-Presseau E. Tinnitus risk factors and its evolution over time. Nat Commun. 2025 May 7;16(1):4244. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59445-3. PMID: 40335454; PMCID: PMC12059016.