Composite scales of morningness and preferences: preliminary validity data in Peruvian undergraduates

Evidence for environment hypothesis: Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the composite scale of morningness across Bangladesh and Spain

Morningness-eveningness reflects individual differences in circadian functioning and is related to health and well-being. Cross-cultural comparison could facilitate understanding of the environmental factors affecting morningness-eveningness, which requires establishing cross-cultural validity of the relevant assessment tools. In this study, we applied the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) to Bangladeshi (n = 1015; 37.9% women) and Spanish (n = 1054; 73.2% women) university students (aged 18-27 years) to evaluate alternative factorial models of the CSM and to test its measurement invariance across cultures. Moreover, this study tested environment hypothesis, suggesting that higher average temperatures and lower latitudes would be related to greater morningness. From nine competing factorial models, a bifactor model with two specific factors (morning preference and morning affect) showed the best fit for both cultures. The two-factor bifactor model had full metric invariance with partial scalar and strict invariance across cultures. The Bangladesh-Spain comparison of the CSM scores revealed higher morningness in Bangladeshi students which supports the environment hypothesis. Overall, this research confirms that morningness-eveningness construct is perceived and interpreted similarly by the Bangladeshi and Spanish students. Importantly, this study highlights the effects of environmental factors including latitude and temperature on morningness-eveningness, and thus facilitates further cross-cultural morningness-eveningness research.

Relationships between morningness, Big Five personality traits, and problematic Internet use in young adult university students: mediating role of depression

The aim of this study was twofold. Firstly, it explored the relationships between morningness, Big Five personality traits, depression, and problematic Internet use (PIU). Secondly, it examined the possible mediating role of depression in these relationships. The following measures were used: the Internet Addiction Test, the Composite Scale of Morningness, the International Personality Item Pool-Big Five Markers-20, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The participants in the study were 398 university students 18 to 30 (M = 20.37, SD = 2.29) years of age. The study found that PIU Total, PIU Mental Disorder, and PIU Time Management Disorder are positively related to depression and negatively related to morningness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Openness. PIU was more often found in individuals with an evening chronotype. The study confirmed the role of depression as a mediator in the relationship of personality traits and morningness to PIU Mental Disorder and PIU Time Management Disorder. For PIU Mental Disorder, the study revealed a full mediation effect of depression in the case of morningness, Emotional Stability, and Extraversion, and partial mediation in the case of Agreeableness and Intellect. For PIU Time Management Disorder, there was a full mediation effect of depression in the case of Emotional Stability, Extraversion, and Agreeableness, and partial mediation in the case of morningness and Intellect. The results highlight the importance of including depression when investigating the relationship between morningness and personality in studies of PIU.

Morningness in German and Spanish students: a comparative study

Humans show pronounced individual differences in circadian orientation. Transcultural comparisons are interesting since biological (or environmental) factors together with cultural ones may contribute to differences in morningness–eveningness. We compared Spanish and German undergraduates using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) to assess circadian preferences. Confirmatory and multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess factor structure and structural invariance across countries. The results showed that a three‐factor model of morningness best characterises the CSM structure of both samples. Partial factorial invariance (factor loadings) across countries was demonstrated for the factors ‘morningness’ and ‘morning alertness’. Scores of both factors were higher in German students. Potential cultural and biological explanations for the differences are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The relationships between self-efficacy, self-control, chronotype, procrastination and sleep problems in young adults

The main aim of our study was to examine whether there was a relationship between psychological characteristics such as self-efficacy, self-control and chronotype as well as procrastination on the one hand and sleep problems on the other. There were 315 young adults aged between 18 and 27 years (M = 20.57). We used the General Procrastination Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Brief Self-Control Scale, the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Our results indicated that low self-efficacy, low self-control and eveningness were positive predictors of procrastination. The reciprocal relationship exists between procrastination and sleep problems. Procrastination positively contributed to sleep problems, whereas sleep problems were a negative predictor of procrastination.

Psychometric properties of a Japanese version of Composite Scale of Morningness

This study aimed to assess the factor structure and validity of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) in Japanese samples. A sample of 348 Japanese university students (196 men, 152 women) and 170 adults from the community (50 men, 120 women) completed a questionnaire including the CSM, the Diurnal Type Scale (DTS) and questions regarding sleeping and waking times. Four measurement models were compared, and a two-factor measurement model with Morningness/Time of day preference (α = 0.78) and Morning Affect/Alertness (α = 0.80) factors yielded the closest fit. Both Morningness/Time of day preference and Morning Affect/Alertness were positively correlated with DTS score. Morningness/Ttime of day preference was negatively correlated with the midpoint of sleep on weekdays and free days. The measurement model was invariant across the university and community groups. The community group, which was older, was characterized by greater morningness. The results provide evidence of the validity of the Japanese CSM, thus opening up the possibility of including Japanese samples in cross-cultural research on morningness.

Morningness-eveningness and amplitude - development and validation of an improved composite scale to measure circadian preference and stability (MESSi)

Measuring morningness-eveningness is an important aspect of individual differences because it is associated with many aspects of personality and health. The present study outlines recent advancements in the field of measurement and proposes an improved assessment of morningness-eveningness, such as the measurement of circadian amplitude, updating and reflecting new item developments, addressing the clock time based measures, the morning-biased items and the aspect of uni versus multidimensionality. Four studies have been carried out in Germany to present a novel development (with a total sample of N = 1181). In study I, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed three dimensions, one of morningness, one of eveningness and one of amplitude/stability. Then, items were reduced to present a clearer factor structure by removing ambiguous items. In the second study, a shortened questionnaire was applied, with 15 items (5 per construct), but Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) did not provide acceptable fit indices. Refining items were made in study III, which again showed a clearer factor structure in EFA, and subsequently, in study IV, the refined set of 15 items provided a good fit of a CFA. The final questionnaire was tested for validity by applying clock times, personality questions and alertness ratings. Thus, this newly developed questionnaire contains three distinct dimensions. To reflect the new content, the scale is labelled morningness-eveningness-stability-scale improved (MESSi).

Arabic versions of the sleep timing questionnaire and the composite scale of morningness

OBJECTIVES

To develop Arabic versions of English language questionnaires to estimate morningness/eveningness and sleep variables.

METHODS

We translated the Composite scale of morningness (CSM) and the sleep timing questionnaire (STQ) [with added siesta questions] into Arabic; the Arabic versions were then back translated. The revised Arabic and the original English versions were next administered to bi-lingual Egyptians using a crossover design (n=25). The Arabic versions of both scales were subsequently administered to an independent Egyptian sample (n=79) and the siesta variables examined in relation to the CSM.

RESULTS

Satisfactory correlations were present between the English and Arabic versions for total CSM scores (Spearman's ρ=0.90, p<0.001). All but one of the STQ variables were significantly correlated (Spearman's ρ=0.45-0.88, p≤0.05). In the Arabic version, the frequency of siesta naps per week was significantly correlated with the total CSM score, with evening types taking more naps (Spearman's ρ=-0.23, p≤0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Arabic versions of the STQ and CSM have been developed in Egypt, and are freely available. They can be used for behavioral research related to sleep and circadian function and can be adapted for use in other Arab speaking populations.

Morningness-Eveningness in Adolescents

Individual morningness-eveningness differences explain the rhythmic variations of behavioral and biological patterns. Several studies have corroborated that morningness preference increases over adulthood and aging. Adolescents shift their time of day preferences from morningness to eveningness during puberty. The aims of this study were translate to Spanish the Morningness-Eveningness Scale for Children (MESC) and to analyze age and sex differences. A group of 600 adolescents (aged between 12 and 16 years) participated in the study. Psychometric analysis showed that reliability and factor structure were suitable and similar to previous studies. The results indicated a clear decrease of morningness as of 12 years. Boys were more morningness-oriented than girls in several items of the questionnaire. In view of the results, several educational implications are raised.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Composite Scale of Morningness

The Composite Scale of Morningness is widely used and translated into several languages. The aim of the study was to present psychometric properties of Turkish version of CSM based on a sample of high school and university students. A total of 543 high school and 650 university students have participated in to the study. The internal consistency coefficient was found to be .73 (high school) and .80 (university). The test-retest reliability of the scale was .89 in high school sample and .84 in university sample. The mean CMS scores did not differ by gender in both samples. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the scale is valid. As an external validation, morningness was associated with MEQ scores, sleep length, mid-point of sleep, rising and retiring time. The data obtained in the study suggested that the Turkish version of the CSM is a reliable and valid instrument to assess circadian preference in both high school and university samples.

Thoughtful days and valenced nights: How much will you think about the problem?

Considerable research has pointed towards processing differences as a viable means for understanding the strength and likelihood of a framing effect. In the current study we explored how differences in processing may emerge through diurnal patters in circadian rhythm, which varies across individuals. We predicted that during circadian off-times, participants would exhibit stronger framing effects whereas framing effects would be relatively weaker during on-times. Six-hundred and eighty five individuals took part in the study; the findings supported our hypothesis, revealing a diurnal pattern of risk responding that varies across the 24-hour circadian cycle.

Evening types among german university students score higher on sense of humor after controlling for big five personality factors

Humor research has focused on relationships between humor and various personality traits. As personality and morningness-eveningness, as well as personality and humor, are related based on genetics and neurobehavioral function, one might also expect a relationship between humor and chronotype. 197 students responded to the Composite Scale of Morningness as a measure of chronotype, the Sense of Humor Questionnaire and a 10-item version of the Big Five Inventory. Individuals scoring as evening types reported a greater sense of humor than morning individuals, with higher morningness scores. In a stepwise linear regression, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness, and Chronotype each accounted for a significant amount of variance in sense of Humor scores. That is, the relationship between scores on Sense of Humor and evening orientation was significant after controlling for personality dimensions. Eveningness was related to sense of Humor scores in women but not in men. Social but not cognitive humor was predicted by eveningness.

Delayed sleep phase cases and controls

BACKGROUND

Delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) is a condition in which patients have difficulty falling asleep before the early morning hours and commonly have trouble awakening before late morning or even early afternoon. Several studies have suggested that variations in habitual bedtime are 40-50% heritable.

METHODS

We recruited a case series of 205 participants, along with 221 controls (DSPD-C) with normal sleep, roughly matched for age, gender, and ancestry. A representative sample of San Diego adults recruited some years before was already available to confirm the control group. Both DSPD and DSPD-C provided blood or saliva samples for DNA and completed extensive questionnaires about sleep habits, sleep history, family history, sleep quality, morningness-eveningness traits, depression, mania, and seasonality of symptoms. The DSPD group wore wrist actigraphs for a median of 13.2 days. The representative sample collected previously had undergone actigraphic recordings, from which 48 hours of data were generally available.

RESULTS

The DSPD and DSPD-C samples showed almost no overlap on morningness-eveningness scores. DSPD cases went to bed and arose about 3 hours later than the DSPD-C and the representative sample. DSPD cases reported more difficulties with sleep, poorer sleep quality, and more depression, but there was no significant difference in a history of mania. DSPD cases reported more family history of late bedtimes, but female DSPD reported that their fathers' bedtimes were later than the fathers of male DSPD.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate a DSPD phenotype is familial and associated with unipolar depression.

Morningness-Eveningness Among German and Spanish Adolescents 12–18 Years

Individual differences in human biological rhythms and diurnal preference (morningness-eveningness) are often based on self-report scales. Here, we compare Spanish (N = 771) and German (N = 1,182) adolescents (12–18 years) using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). A 3-factorial solution of the CSM was supported in both countries, morningness, activity planning, and alertness factors, and the last two factors were invariant across countries. Morningness decreased with age, and higher morningness was found in German pupils. Gender differences were not significant concerning the alertness factor but existed in the activity-planning factor with girls scoring higher, and in the morningness factor with boys scoring higher. Interactions suggest that the linear trend toward eveningness is less pronounced in Spanish adolescents, whereas German boys showed the steepest linear decline in their over time compared to German girls and to Spanish boys who showed a U-shaped tendency.