TL;DR: The results showed that computer usage for playing/surfing/reading was positively associated with insomnia, and negatively associated with morningness, and no type of media use was related to daytime sleepiness.
Abstract: This study investigated whether the use of a television, computer, gaming console, tablet, mobile phone, or audio player in bed before going to sleep was associated with insomnia, daytime sleepiness, morningness, or chronotype. 532 students aged 18-39 were recruited from lectures or via e-mail. Respondents reported the frequency and average duration of their in-bed media use, as well as insomnia symptoms, daytime sleepiness, morningness-eveningness preference and bedtime/rise time on days off. Mean time of media use per night was 46.6 minutes. The results showed that computer usage for playing/surfing/reading was positively associated with insomnia, and negatively associated with morningness. Mobile phone usage for playing/surfing/texting was positively associated with insomnia and chronotype, and negatively associated with morningness. None of the other media devices were related to either of these variables, and no type of media use was related to daytime sleepiness.
TL;DR: It is found that breakfast skipping is associated with a later chronotype and both contribute to poorer glycemic control, as indicated by higher HbA1C levels.
Abstract: Breakfast skipping is associated with obesity and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Later chronotypes, individuals who have a preference for later bed and wake times, often skip breakfast. The aim of the study was to explore the relationships among breakfast skipping, chronotype, and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. We collected sleep timing and 24-h dietary recall from 194 non-shift-working type 2 diabetes patients who were being followed in outpatient clinics. Mid-sleep time on free days (MSF) was used as an indicator of chronotype. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) values were obtained from medical records. Hierarchical linear regression analyses controlling for demographic, sleep, and dietary variables were computed to determine whether breakfast skipping was associated with HbA1C. Additional regression analyses were performed to test if this association was mediated by chronotype. There were 22 participants (11.3%) who self-reported missing breakfast. Breakfast skippers had significantly higher...
TL;DR: The independent association of eveningness with nonremission of depression suggested a significant underpinning of circadian involvement in major depressive disorder, and support the need for a comprehensive assessment of sleep and circadian disturbances as well as integration ofSleep and chronotherapeutic intervention in the management of depression.
Abstract: BACKGROUND It is unclear whether there is an association between chronotype and nonremission of depression, and whether the association is related to the confounding effect of insomnia METHOD A cohort of patients with major depressive disorder were assessed for chronotype (by Morningness-Eveningness Questinnaire [MEQ]), depressive symptoms, insomnia severity and clinical outcomes in a naturalistic follow-up study RESULTS Of the 253 recruited subjects (age 508 ± 102 y; female: 826%; response rate 900%), 194%, 561% and 245% patients were classified as eveningness, intermediate, and morningness, respectively Evening-type subjects had higher insomnia severity, more severe depressive symptoms, and higher suicidality Eveningness was associated with nonremission of depression with an odds ratio (OR) of 336 (95% confidence interval [CI] 135-834, P < 001), independent of insomnia severity In addition, insomnia was an independent significant factor in contributing to nonremission of depression (OR = 112; 95% CI 105-119, P < 0001) CONCLUSION The independent association of eveningness with nonremission of depression suggested a significant underpinning of circadian involvement in major depressive disorder Our findings support the need for a comprehensive assessment of sleep and circadian disturbances as well as integration of sleep and chronotherapeutic intervention in the management of depression
TL;DR: It is proposed that the connectivity between the emotional centers of the brain — the prefontal cortex and the amygdala — is in part dependent on the homeostatic sleep system such that connectivity between these brain networks is higher when rested and lower when sleep deprived.
Abstract: Emotions are biologically-based responses that help an organism meet challenges and opportunities, and involve changes in subjective experience, behavior, and physiology Emotions arise when something important to us is at stake Although many factors have been associated with healthy emotional regulation, the role of sleep in this process has been largely ignored Recent studies, however, have begun to delineate how sleep critically affects emotional functioning Nighttime sleep affects daytime mood, emotional reactivity and the capacity to regulate positive and negative emotions; conversely, daytime experiences affect sleep Hence, there is a complex interplay between sleep and emotional regulation The objective of this article is to examine this interplay in adults This objective is addressed by utilizing a framework that identifies key aspects of the relationship between sleep and emotion We propose that the connectivity between the emotional centers of the brain--the prefontal cortex and the amygdala--is in part dependent on the homeostatic sleep system such that connectivity between these brain networks is higher when rested and lower when sleep deprived High connectivity drives more efficient executive functioning, while a disconnect leads to poor executive functioning capacity including emotional reactivity and impulsivity The cognitive effects of the homeostatic system are couple with the mood regulation effects of the circadian system together dictating the degree to which one experiences emotional regulation or dysregulation Further, the affective brain systems of individuals with clinical symptomology and/or pathology are suggested to be more vulnerable to homeostatic pressure and circadian lows or misalignment resulting in increased affective clinical symptomology We review empirical evidence that supports this framework and explore the implications of this framework Finally, we describe future directions for this type of work
TL;DR: It is suggested that personality has a significant association with sleep health, and researchers could profitably examine both personality and sleep in models of health and well-being.
Abstract: Although previous research has shown personality and sleep are each substantial predictors of health throughout the lifespan, little is known about links between personality and healthy sleep patterns. This study examined Big Five personality traits and a range of factors related to sleep health in 436 university students (M(age) = 19.88, SD = 1.50, 50% Male). Valid self-report measures of personality, chronotype, sleep hygiene, sleep quality, and sleepiness were analyzed. To remove multicollinearity between personality factors, each sleep domain was regressed on relevant demographic and principal component-derived personality factors in multiple linear regressions. Results showed that low conscientiousness and high neuroticism were the best predictors of poor sleep (poor sleep hygiene, low sleep quality, and increased sleepiness), consistent with other research on predictors of poor health and mortality risk. In this first comprehensive study of the topic, the findings suggest that personality has a significant association with sleep health, and researchers could profitably examine both personality and sleep in models of health and well-being.
TL;DR: After confounder variables were controlled, insomnia predicted depression and panic disorder (PD), whereas insomnia was predicted by depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
TL;DR: It is concluded that the prevalence of poor sleep quality among Lebanese university students is associated with reduced sleep duration and shifts in sleep timing between weekdays and weekends, especially among evening types.
Abstract: b Abstract: Adequate, good night sleep is fundamental to well-being and is known to be influenced by myriad biological and environmental factors. Given the unavailability of sleep data about Lebanon, the cultural shifts and socioeconomic pressures that have affected many aspects of society, particularly for students and working adults, as well as our understanding of sleep in university students in other countries, we conducted a national study to assess sleep quality and factors contributing to sleep and general health in a culture-specific context. A self-filled questionnaire, inquiring about sociodemographics, health-risk behaviors, personal health, and evaluating sleep quality and chronotype using standard scales was completed by 540 students at private and public universities in Lebanon. Overall, they reported sleeping 7.95±1.34 hours per night, although 12.3% reported sleeping ,6.5 hours and more than half scored in the poor-sleeper category on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sleep timing differed markedly between weekdays and weekends, with bedtimes and wake-up times delayed by 1.51 and 2.43 hours, respectively, on weekends. While most scored in the "neither type" category on the Morningness- Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), 24.5% were evening types and 7.3% were morning types. MEQ score was significantly correlated with smoking behavior and daily study onset, as well as with PSQI score, with eveningness associated with greater number of cigarettes, later study times, and poor sleep. We conclude that the prevalence of poor sleep quality among Lebanese university students is associated with reduced sleep duration and shifts in sleep timing between weekdays and weekends, especially among evening types. While chronotype and certain behavioral choices interact to affect sleep dimensions and quality, raising awareness about the importance of obtaining adequate nighttime sleep on daily performance and avoiding risky behaviors may
TL;DR: A Japanese version of the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire was developed by using a translation/back-translation approach including an examination of its semantic validity and results showed that MEQ scores were significantly negatively correlated with mid-sleep parameters assessed by the MCTQ, as well as with the chronotype measure MSFsc.
Abstract: To assess circadian preference with a score, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) has been used for more than 3 decades now. More recently, the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) was developed: it asks for sleep-wake behavior on work and free days and uses the midpoint of sleep on free days (MSF), corrected for sleep debt accumulated during the work week as an indicator of chronotype (MSFsc). In this study, we developed a Japanese version of the MCTQ by using a translation/back-translation approach including an examination of its semantic validity. In a subsequent questionnaire survey, 450 adult men and women completed the Japanese versions of the MCTQ and MEQ. Results showed that MEQ scores were significantly negatively correlated with mid-sleep parameters assessed by the MCTQ, on both, work and free days, as well as with the chronotype measure MSFsc (r = −0.580 to −0.652, all p < 0.001). As in the original German version, the strongest correlation was observed between MEQ score and MSF. A...
TL;DR: The findings demonstrate that phone usage patterns can be used to detect and predict individual daily variations indicative of temporal preference, sleep duration, and deprivation, and identify opportunities and challenges for measuring and enhancing well-being using these simple and effective markers of circadian rhythms.
Abstract: We often think of ourselves as individuals with steady capabilities. However, converging strands of research indicate that this is not the case. Our biochemistry varies significantly over the course of a 24 hour period. Consequently our levels of alertness, productivity, physical activity, and even sensitivity to pain fluctuate throughout the day. This offers a considerable opportunity for the UbiComp community to identify novel measurements and interventions that can leverage these daily variations. To illustrate this potential, we present results from an empirical study with 9 participants over 97 days investigating whether such variations manifest in low-level smartphone use, focusing on daily rhythms related to sleep. Our findings demonstrate that phone usage patterns can be used to detect and predict individual daily variations indicative of temporal preference, sleep duration, and deprivation. We also identify opportunities and challenges for measuring and enhancing well-being using these simple and effective markers of circadian rhythms.
TL;DR: Season of assessment, sex and age have an effect on epidemiological variation in sleep duration, chronotype and SJl, and should be included in studies investigating associations between these phenotypes and health parameters, and on the development of optimal prevention strategies.
Abstract: Little is known about human entrainment under natural conditions, partly due to the complexity of human behavior, torn between biological and social time and influenced by zeitgebers (light-dark cycles) that are progressively "polluted" (and thereby weakened) by artificial light. In addition, data about seasonal variations in sleep parameters are scarce. We, therefore, investigated seasonal variation in cross-sectional assessments of sleep/wake times of 9765 subjects from four European populations (EGCUT = Estonian Genome Centre, University of Tartu in Estonia; KORA = Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg in Germany; KORCULA = The Korcula study in Croatia; and ORCADES = The Orkney Complex Disease Study in Scotland). We identified time-of-year dependencies for the distribution of chronotype (phase of entrainment assessed as the mid-sleep time point on free days adjusted for sleep deficit of workdays) in cohorts from Estonia (EGCUT) and Germany (KORA). Our results indicate that season (defined as daylight saving time - DST and standard zonetime periods - SZT) specifications of photoperiod influence the distribution of chronotype (adjusted for age and sex). Second, in the largest investigated sample, from Estonia (EGCUT; N = 5878), we could detect that seasonal variation in weekly average sleep duration was dependent on individual chronotype. Later chronotypes in this cohort showed significant variation in their average sleep duration across the year, especially during DST (1 h advance in social time from the end of March to end of October), while earlier chronotypes did not. Later chronotypes not only slept less during the DST period but the average chronotype of the population assessed during this period was earlier than during the SZT (local time for a respective time zone) period. More in detail, hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that, beyond season of assessment (DST or SZT), social jetlag (SJl; the discrepancy between the mid sleep on free and work days - which varied with age and sex) contributed to a greater extent to the variation in sleep duration than chronotype (after taking into account factors that are known to influence sleep duration, i.e. age, sex and body mass index). Variation in chronotype was also dependent on age, sex, season of assessment and SJl (which is highly correlated with chronotype - SJl was larger among later chronotypes). In summary, subjective assessments of sleep/wake times are very reliable to assess internal time and sleep duration (e.g. reproducing sleep duration and timing tendencies related to age and sex across the investigated populations), but season of assessment should be regarded as a potential confounder. We identified in this study photoperiod (seasonal adaptation) and SJl as two main factors influencing seasonal variation in chronotype and sleep duration. In conclusion, season of assessment, sex and age have an effect on epidemiological variation in sleep duration, chronotype and SJl, and should be included in studies investigating associations between these phenotypes and health parameters, and on the development of optimal prevention strategies.
TL;DR: This review highlights key findings demonstrating the importance of circadian rhythms in addiction and how future studies will reveal important mechanistic insights into the involvement of circadian rhythmicity in drug addiction.
Abstract: Circadian rhythms are prominent in many physiological and behavioral functions. Circadian disruptions either by environmental or molecular perturbation can have profound health consequences, including the development and progression of addiction. Both animal and humans studies indicate extensive bidirectional relationships between the circadian system and drugs of abuse. Addicted individuals display disrupted rhythms, and chronic disruption or particular chronotypes may increase the risk for substance abuse and relapse. Moreover, polymorphisms in circadian genes and an evening chronotype have been linked to mood and addiction disorders, and recent efforts suggest an association with the function of reward neurocircuitry. Animal studies are beginning to determine how altered circadian gene function results in drug-induced neuroplasticity and behaviors. Many studies suggest a critical role for circadian rhythms in reward-related pathways in the brain and indicate that drugs of abuse directly affect the central circadian pacemaker. In this review, we highlight key findings demonstrating the importance of circadian rhythms in addiction and how future studies will reveal important mechanistic insights into the involvement of circadian rhythms in drug addiction.
TL;DR: In this article, Randler et al. assessed the relationship between computer game addiction and computer game usage time, age, gender, BIG-5 personality, and chronotype and concluded that evening types may be more prone to game addiction than morning types.
Abstract: 1. Christian Vollmer[1][1]
2. Christoph Randler[1][1]
3. Mehmet Baris Horzum[2][2]
4. Tuncay Ayas[2][2]
1. 1University of Education Heidelberg, Germany
2. 2Sakarya University, Turkiye
1. Christoph Randler, Institute of Science, Geography and Technology, University of Education Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 561, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany. Email: randler{at}ph-heidelberg.de
This study assessed the relationship between computer game addiction and computer game usage time, age, gender, BIG-5 personality, and chronotype. Seven hundred and forty-one adolescents from Turkey responded to questionnaires on these topics. We found that computer game addiction, computer game usage time, and chronotype were related with each other. Evening-oriented, younger, and male students had higher computer game addiction scores than morning-oriented, older, and female students. Furthermore, extraverted and agreeable students reported lower computer game addiction. No significant relationship was observed between students’ computer game addiction scores and openness to experience, conscientiousness. We conclude that evening types may be more prone to computer game addiction than morning types.
[1]: #aff-1
[2]: #aff-2
TL;DR: This study analysed the pre-sleep alertness, sleep, and morning functioning of 16 healthy adolescents who used a bright tablet screen, dim screen, and a filtered short-wavelength screen for 1 hr before their usual bedtime in a within-subjects protocol, finding minimal clinical significance.
Abstract: Electronic media use is prevalent among adolescent populations, as is the frequency of sleeplessness. One mechanism proposed for technology affecting adolescents' sleep is the alerting effects from bright screens. Two explanations are provided. First, screens emit significant amounts of short-wavelength light (i.e. blue), which produces acute alertness and alters sleep timing. Second, later chronotypes are hypothesised to be hypersensitive to evening light. This study analysed the pre-sleep alertness (GO/NOGO task speed, accuracy; subjective sleepiness), sleep (sleep diary, polysomnography), and morning functioning of 16 healthy adolescents (M = 17.4 ± 1.9 yrs, 56% f) who used a bright tablet screen (80 lux), dim screen (1 lux) and a filtered short-wavelength screen (f.lux; 50 lux) for 1 hr before their usual bedtime in a within-subjects protocol. Chronotype was analysed as a continuous between-subjects factor; however, no significant interactions occurred. Significant effects occurred between bright and dim screens for GO/NOGO speed and accuracy. However, the magnitude of these differences was small (e.g. GO/NOGO speed = 23 ms, accuracy = 13%), suggesting minimal clinical significance. No significant effects were found for sleep onset latency, slow-rolling eye movements, or the number of SWS and REM minutes in the first two sleep cycles. Future independent studies are needed to test short (1 hr) vs longer (>2 hrs) screen usage to provide evidence for safe-to-harmful levels of screenlight exposure before adolescents' usual bedtime.
TL;DR: Recent investigations which provide first neural correlates of the combined influence of sleep homeostasis and circadian rhythmicity on cognitive brain activity are summarized and new insights are provided into the contribution of demographic characteristics, the sleep-wake cycle, circadian Rhythmicity and light to brain functioning are provided.
Abstract: In humans, sleep and wakefulness and the associated cognitive processes are regulated through interactions between sleep homeostasis and the circadian system. Chronic disruption of sleep and circadian rhythmicity is common in our society and there is a need for a better understanding of the brain mechanisms regulating sleep, wakefulness and associated cognitive processes. This review summarizes recent investigations which provide first neural correlates of the combined influence of sleep homeostasis and circadian rhythmicity on cognitive brain activity. Markers of interindividual variations in sleep-wake regulation, such as chronotype and polymorphisms in sleep and clock genes, are associated with changes in cognitive brain responses in subcortical and cortical areas in response to manipulations of the sleep-wake cycle. This review also includes recent data showing that cognitive brain activity is regulated by light, which is a powerful modulator of cognition and alertness and also directly impacts sleep and circadian rhythmicity. The effect of light varied with age, psychiatric status, PERIOD3 genotype and changes in sleep homeostasis and circadian phase. These data provide new insights into the contribution of demographic characteristics, the sleep-wake cycle, circadian rhythmicity and light to brain functioning.
TL;DR: The findings imply that the negative effects of time on task in executive control can be prevented by scheduling cognitive tasks at the optimal time of day according to specific circadian profiles of individuals.
Abstract: Time of day modulates our cognitive functions, especially those related to executive control, such as the ability to inhibit inappropriate responses. However, the impact of individual differences in time of day preferences (i.e. morning vs. evening chronotype) had not been considered by most studies. It was also unclear whether the vigilance decrement (impaired performance with time on task) depends on both time of day and chronotype. In this study, morning-type and evening-type participants performed a task measuring vigilance and response inhibition (the Sustained Attention to Response Task, SART) in morning and evening sessions. The results showed that the vigilance decrement in inhibitory performance was accentuated at non-optimal as compared to optimal times of day. In the morning-type group, inhibition performance decreased linearly with time on task only in the evening session, whereas in the morning session it remained more accurate and stable over time. In contrast, inhibition performance in the evening-type group showed a linear vigilance decrement in the morning session, whereas in the evening session the vigilance decrement was attenuated, following a quadratic trend. Our findings imply that the negative effects of time on task in executive control can be prevented by scheduling cognitive tasks at the optimal time of day according to specific circadian profiles of individuals. Therefore, time of day and chronotype influences should be considered in research and clinical studies as well as real-word situations demanding executive control for response inhibition.
TL;DR: Rotating SW nurses show alterations in peripheral clock gene expression and 17-β-estradiol levels at the beginning of the morning shift after a day off, which may constitute biological alterations underlying the increased risk of breast cancer among shift workers.
Abstract: ,Altered levels of peripheral clock gene expression and higher levels of 17-beta-estradiol levels were found among shift workers sampled at the beginning of the morning shift after a regular night's sleep on a day off. These findings, and their relation with chronotype, supplement information to the potential biological processes underlying the increased risk of breast cancer among shift workers.
TL;DR: In this large sleep timing survey, no differences in the prevalence of self-identified ASPD and DSPD are found between Maori and non-Maori and this has implications for the development and provision of sleep health services and strategies for managing the significant impact of work patterns on sleep.
Abstract: The aim was to estimate the prevalence of, and identify independent risk factors for, Advanced (ASPD) and Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) among Māori (indigenous New Zealanders) and non-Māori adults using a self-report questionnaire. The Munich Chronotype Questionnaire was mailed to a stratified sample of 9100 adults (5100 Māori and 4000 non-Māori) aged 20-59 years randomly selected from the electoral rolls (54% response rate). Different definitions for ASPD and DSPD were developed using combinations of symptoms including self-reported bed and rising times, current chronotype, and a desire to change sleep schedule. Logistic regression models were used to model the likelihood of reporting ASPD or DSPD separately after adjusting for ethnicity (Māori versus non-Māori), sex (males versus females), age (in decades), socio-economic deprivation (NZDep2006 deciles) and employment status (unemployed, night work versus employed with no night work). The prevalence of ASPD ranged from 0.25% to 7.13% whereas the prevalence of DSPD was 1.51 to 8.90% depending on the definition used. The prevalence of ASPD was higher among men and increased with age. The prevalence of DSPD was higher among those living in more deprived areas and decreased with age. After controlling for ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic deprivation and employment status, people with ASPD were more likely to report excessive daytime sleepiness, whereas those with DSPD were more likely to report poor or fair self-rated health. Reporting ASPD and DSPD were associated with self-reported night work. In this large sleep timing survey, we found no differences in the prevalence of self-identified ASPD and DSPD between Maori and non-Maori. This has implications for the development and provision of sleep health services and strategies for managing the significant impact of work patterns on sleep.
TL;DR: The data provide support that sharply opposes the view that there is a single path toward morningness as a function of age, regardless of gender, and suggest that the ontogenetic development of the circadian timekeeping system is more plastic in men.
Abstract: Chronotype is an established concept designed to identify distinct phase relationships between the expression of circadian rhythms and external synchronizers in humans. Although it has been widely accepted that chronotype is subjected to ontogenetic modulation, there is no consensus on the interaction between age and gender. This study aimed to determine the relationship between age- and gender-related changes in the morningness-eveningness character in a large sample of people. A total of 14,650 volunteers were asked to complete the Brazilian version of the Horne and Ostberg chronotype questionnaire. The data demonstrated that, on average, women were more morning-oriented than men until the age of 30 and there were no significant differences between men and women from 30 to 45 years of age. In contrast to the situation observed until the age of 30, women older than 45 years were more evening-oriented than men. These results suggest that the ontogenetic development of the circadian timekeeping system is more plastic in men, as represented by the larger amplitude of chronotype changes throughout their aging process. The phase delay of adolescence and phase advance of the elderly seem to be phenomena that are more markedly present in men than in women. Thus, our data, for the first time, provide support that sharply opposes the view that there is a single path toward morningness as a function of age, regardless of gender.
TL;DR: In this paper, a study was conducted to increase understanding of the associations between different dimensions of morningness, depressive symptoms, and emotional eating in the general population, and found that higher alertness in the morning and preference for morning hours were both related to lower depressive symptoms.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the associations between different dimensions of morningness–eveningness, depressive symptoms, and emotional eating in the general population. The participants were 25-to-74-year-old Finnish men (n = 2325) and women (n = 2699) from the National FINRISK Study conducted in 2007. The Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 were used to measure depressive symptoms and emotional eating. Chronotype was assessed with a shortened version of Horne and Ostberg’s Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical approach. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure for the six-item MEQ with separate factors for morning alertness and circadian preference for daily activities (r = 0.65). Higher alertness in the morning and preference for morning hours were both related to lower depressive symptoms (βtotal effect = −0.36 and −0.11, respect...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated whether Internet addiction is associated with age, gender, BIG-5 personality, and chronotype in a Turkish university student sample, and concluded that evening types may be more prone to Internet addiction than morning-oriented persons because eveningness is related to personality styles that foster Internet addiction.
Abstract: This study sought to investigate whether Internet addiction (IA) is associated with age, gender, BIG-5 personality, and chronotype in a Turkish university student sample. Six hundred and sixteen students filled out a set of questionnaires. We here report-to our knowledge for the first time-an association between IA and chronotype. Evening types and males had higher IA scores than others. Furthermore, agreeable and conscientious students reported lower IA. No consistent relationship was observed between students' IA scores and openness to experience, extraversion, and neuroticism. We conclude that evening types may be more prone to IA than morning-oriented persons because eveningness is related to personality styles that foster Internet addiction.
TL;DR: Understanding when people will behave unethically may require an appreciation of both the person (chronotype) and the situation (time-of-day): a chronotype morality effect.
Abstract: The recently-documented “morning morality effect” indicates that people act most ethically in the morning because their energy wanes with the day. An estimated 40% of the population, however, experience increased energy levels later in the day. These “evening people,” we propose, should not show the morning morality effect. Instead, they should show the same or an increasing propensity toward ethicality in the evening. Two experiments supported this hypothesis, showing that people with a morning chronotype tend to behave more ethically in the morning than the evening, while people with an evening chronotype tend to behave more ethically in the evening than the morning. Thus, understanding when people will behave unethically may require an appreciation of both the person (chronotype) and the situation (time-of-day): a chronotype morality effect.
TL;DR: The evidence is suggestive of a bi-directional relationship between poor sleep quality and mind wandering/daydreaming, which may be important in attempts to deal with sleep problems and improve sleep quality.
Abstract: Poor sleep quality impairs cognition, including executive functions and concentration, but there has been little direct research on the relationships between sleep quality and mind wandering or daydreaming. Evening chronotype is associated with poor sleep quality, more mind wandering and more daydreaming; negative affect is also a mutual correlate. This exploratory study investigated how mind wandering and daydreaming are related to different aspects of sleep quality, and whether sleep quality influences the relationships between mind wandering/daydreaming and negative affect, and mind wandering/daydreaming and chronotype. Three surveys (Ns = 213; 190; 270) were completed with Chinese adults aged 1850, including measures of sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, mind wandering, daydreaming, chronotype and affect (positive and negative). Higher frequencies of mind wandering and daydreaming were associated with poorer sleep quality, in particular with poor subjective sleep quality and increased sleep latency, night-time disturbance, daytime dysfunction and daytime sleepiness. Poor sleep quality was found to partially mediate the relationships between daydreaming and negative affect, and mind wandering and negative affect. Additionally, low positive affect and poor sleep quality, in conjunction, fully mediated the relationships between chronotype and mind wandering, and chronotype and daydreaming. The relationships between mind wandering/daydreaming and positive affect were also moderated by chronotype, being weaker in those with a morning preference. Finally, while daytime sleepiness was positively correlated with daydream frequency, it was negatively correlated with a measure of problem-solving daydreams, indicating that more refined distinctions between different forms of daydreaming or mind wandering are warranted. Overall, the evidence is suggestive of a bi-directional relationship between poor sleep quality and mind wandering/daydreaming, which may be important in attempts to deal with sleep problems and improve sleep quality. These findings and further research on this topic may also have implications for definitions and theories of mind wandering and daydreaming.
TL;DR: The expression of chronotype under the influence of the weekly social schedule (midpoint of sleep on school days) could be a more useful marker to measure the stress produced from the mismatch between external and inner rhythms rather than social jetlag.
Abstract: Depression is a serious and prevalent disease among adolescents. Identifying possible factors involved with its genesis and presentation is an important task for researchers and clinical practitioners. The individual’s chronotype and social jetlag have been associated with depression in different populations. However, information on this is lacking among adolescents. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between chronotype (midpoint of sleep) and social jetlag with the presence of depression symptoms in young students. We assessed 351 students aged 12–21 years old. They answered a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Demographic characteristics (age, sex and classes’ schedule) and circadian rhythmic variables for school and free days (sunlight exposure, sleep duration, midpoint of sleep and social jetlag) were taken as factors and the presence of at least mild depression sympt...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared cross-sectional studies of diurnal type preferences between two decades and analyzed the consistency of the diurnal-type preferences using a longitudinal dataset, using Cox regression to calculate the relative risk of all-cause mortality in each of the four diurn...
Abstract: Diurnal type (chronotype) differentiates individuals on an axis between the extremes of evening type to morning type. These diurnal-type preferences are thought to be relatively stable, but follow-up studies are sparse. The study aims were (1) to compare cross-sectional studies of diurnal type preferences between two decades and (2) to analyze the consistency of diurnal-type preferences using a longitudinal dataset. We analyzed a total of 18 087 adult males from four datasets with information on diurnal type and age. Of these, 2144 were available for survival analysis and 567 for analysis of longitudinal diurnal consistency. Diurnal type was assessed by asking the individual to what extent they would rate themselves a morning or an evening person, categorized into four groups. Statistical tests for stability of diurnal type were based on transition matrices and p values obtained using likelihood ratios. Cox regression was used to calculate the relative risk of all-cause mortality in each of the four diurn...
TL;DR: The cross-sectional data yielded that morning types were less common in the 2000s than two decades earlier, and the longitudinal dataset revealed a significant shift from evening type to another type from 1985 to 2008.
Abstract: Diurnal type (chronotype) differentiates individuals on an axis between the extremes of evening type to morning type. These diurnal-type preferences are thought to be relatively stable, but follow-up studies are sparse. The study aims were (1) to compare cross-sectional studies of diurnal type preferences between two decades and (2) to analyze the consistency of diurnal-type preferences using a longitudinal dataset. We analyzed a total of 18 087 adult males from four datasets with information on diurnal type and age. Of these, 2144 were available for survival analysis and 567 for analysis of longitudinal diurnal consistency. Diurnal type was assessed by asking the individual to what extent they would rate themselves a morning or an evening person, categorized into four groups. Statistical tests for stability of diurnal type were based on transition matrices and p values obtained using likelihood ratios. Cox regression was used to calculate the relative risk of all-cause mortality in each of the four diurn...
TL;DR: Examining whether the associations of chronotype and time perspective are replicable with other time perspective measures, and whether self-control explains the observed relationships, found that morningness mediated the influence of morningness on both future time perspective and delay of gratification.
Abstract: Recent studies provide evidence for the chronotype–time perspective relationships. Larks are more future-oriented and owls are more present-oriented. The present study expands this initial research by examining whether the associations are replicable with other time perspective measures, and whether self-control explains the observed relationships. Chronotype was assessed with the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire and the basic associations with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory were replicated in a sample of 142 New Zealand students, but not with other measures. Self-control mediated the influence of morningness on both future time perspective and delay of gratification. Implications of the findings are discussed.
TL;DR: Current results suggest that even relatively small alterations in sleep timing may influence PA, and clinical intervention studies should be conducted to assess the relationship between sleep timing and energy balance.
TL;DR: Excessive daytimeSleepiness and eveningness chronotype are common among Peruvian college students and regular stimulant beverage consumption tended to be positively associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.
Abstract: Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate patterns of circadian preferences and daytime sleepiness, and to examine the extent to which the consumption of stimulant beverages is associated with daytime sleepiness and evening chronotype among Peruvian college-age students.
Methods: A total of 2,581 undergraduate students completed a self-administered comprehensive questionnaire that gathered information about sleep habits, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, and the use of caffeinated beverages. The Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were used to assess chronotype and daytime sleepiness. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression procedures to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations of sleep disorders with sociodemographic and behavioral factors.
Results: The prevalence of daytime sleepiness was 35% [95% CI 32.7–36.4] and eveningness chronotype was 10% [95% CI 8.8–11.1%]. Age, sex, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with an evening chronotype. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, body mass index, and physical activity, students who reported consumption of any stimulant beverages had 1.25 increased odds of excessive daytime sleepiness (OR=1.25 [95% CI 1.03–1.53]) compared with students who did not consume stimulant beverages. Consumption of any stimulant beverages was not statistically significantly associated with being an evening chronotype (OR=1.30 [95% CI 0.86–1.96]).
Conclusions: Excessive daytime sleepiness and eveningness chronotype are common among Peruvian college students. MEQ scores were associated with age, sex, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Regular stimulant beverage consumption tended to be positively associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.
TL;DR: There was a significant difference between the rural and urban populations in natural light exposure and sleeping patterns and the results emphasize the idea that latitude may not be the main factor influencing individual circadian habits.
Abstract: The physiological pattern of the sleep–wake cycle is influenced by external synchronizing agents such as light and social patterns, creating variations in each individual’s preferred active and sleep periods. Because of the demands of a 24-h working society, it may be imperative for many people to adapt their sleep patterns (physiologically) to their daily activities. Therefore, we analyzed the difference in sleep patterns and chronobiological parameters between an essentially rural farming and urban small-town populations. We studied 5942 subjects (women, 67.1%, N = 3985; mean age, 44.3 ± 13.1 years), from which the chronotype, circadian sleep pattern, and period of light exposure were collected using the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ). A structured questionnaire was also made for collection of social and demographic information. Compared with the urban population (N = 3427, 57.7%), the rural population (N = 2515, 42.3%) presented a more predominantly early sleep pattern, as determined by the mid...
TL;DR: The findings emphasize the importance of separating between different dimensions of chronotype when examining its relationships with psychological factors such as depressive symptoms and overeating tendencies.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the associations between different dimensions of morningness–eveningness, depressive symptoms, and emotional eating in the general population. The participants were 25-to-74-year-old Finnish men (n = 2325) and women (n = 2699) from the National FINRISK Study conducted in 2007. The Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 were used to measure depressive symptoms and emotional eating. Chronotype was assessed with a shortened version of Horne and Ostberg’s Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical approach. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure for the six-item MEQ with separate factors for morning alertness and circadian preference for daily activities (r = 0.65). Higher alertness in the morning and preference for morning hours were both related to lower depressive symptoms (βtotal effect = −0.36 and −0.11, respect...