Initial psychometric characterization for the Portuguese version of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi)

Morning affect or sleep inertia? Comparing the constructs and their measurement

The construct of Morning Affect (MA; alertness upon awakening/time required to feel fully awake) emerged from exploratory factor analysis of morningness-eveningness questionnaires, and while it has been equated with morningness-eveningness preference it has much conceptual overlap with sleep inertia (SI; the transitional state between sleep and being fully awake). The current study compared questionnaire measures of these constructs to help clarify their inter-relationships. A volunteer sample of 453 students at an English-medium university in China completed an online survey including the Sleep Inertia Questionnaire (SIQ), the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi), with subscales for MA, Eveningness, and Distinctness (amplitude of diurnal variation), and the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). Measures of depression, sleep quality, mindfulness, and personality were also included. Exploratory factor analysis of the SIQ, MESSi, and rMEQ items revealed seven factors: Cognitive, Emotional, and Physiological SI, Responses to SI (including one MA item), and Duration of SI (one SIQ item, 3/5 MA items, and one rMEQ item); Morningness-Eveningness (MESSi Eveningness items, plus 3/5 rMEQ items); Distinctness (3/5 MESSi items). These results suggest that Morning Affect may be better characterised as a general measure of sleep inertia, and may contribute to ongoing development/refinement of questionnaire measures of circadian functioning.

Morning affect, eveningness, and amplitude distinctness: Associations with behavioural indicators of conscientiousness

Morningness is associated with well-being, better sleep quality, and more conscientiousness, while eveningness is associated with negative emotionality, poorer sleep quality, and less conscientiousness. The current study aimed to further understanding of associations with conscientiousness by assessing specific behavioural indicators of conscientiousness, morningness-eveningness, and also the Morning Affect and Distinctness (amplitude of diurnal variation) aspects of circadian functioning. A survey of Chinese university students (N = 369, aged 18-30, mean = 19.48, SD = 1.922; 108 males, 261 females), included the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale, measures of conscientiousness, mindfulness, life satisfaction, aspects of sleep, and the Behavioural Indicators of Conscientiousness (BIC) scale. Morningness and Morning Affect were positively correlated with life satisfaction, mindfulness, better sleep quality, more conscientiousness, and with BIC including Hardworking, Self-control, and Punctuality. Distinctness showed negative correlations with these variables. Negative correlations between Eveningness and conscientiousness, and the BIC subscales of Hardworking and Cleanliness were no longer significant after controlling for Morning Affect. Mediation analysis showed that the associations between Eveningness and conscientiousness/BIC were mediated by Morning Affect. These results extend previous research by showing associations between circadian functioning and specific behavioural indicators of conscientiousness, and suggest that low Morning Affect may provide a mechanism for the relationship between Eveningness and conscientiousness.

The psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) in adolescents

The aim of the present study was to adapt the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability Scale improved (MESSi) to the Spanish adolescent population, testing its factor structure and construct validity. The participants were 725 adolescents (52.9% girls; M = 14.8, SD = 1.99) who completed the MESSi, the Morningness Eveningness Scale of Children (MESC), questions about sleep habits adapted from the School Sleep Habits Survey, and self-reported academic performance. The psychometric results support a three-factor model with the factors of morning affect, eveningness, and distinctness, which show good internal consistency. The pattern of correlations between MESSi and the other measures was in the expected direction. The MESC correlated positively with morning affect and negatively with eveningness, whereas distinctness was uncorrelated. Boys reported higher morningness, whereas girls reported higher distinctness. Eveningness was negatively related to academic performance. Overall, the results support the validity and reliability of the Spanish adolescent version of the MESSi.

Impact of pandemic lockdown on learning behaviour and sleep quality in German students

Background

This study addresses the effects of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) restriction measures on sleep and bedtime habits of N = 637 German university students.

Methods

The questionnaire was distributed online during two different time periods in 2020 (February 27–March 21) and in 2021 (February 27–March 27). The first data collection phase was immediately before the first strict lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, and the second data collection phase was during the second lockdown. The survey was composed of validated questionnaires and additional questions regarding the changes in sleep/bedtimes and the status of lectures during the lockdown phase.

Results

The average Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) score in the sample decreased during the lockdown phase, corresponding to the fact that students were less burdened with daytime sleepiness. Moreover, the sample had earlier rise and earlier bedtimes on free days during the lockdown period. Furthermore, the increase in flexible learning times brought about by the pandemic negatively impacted the students’ lifestyle and increased irregularities in sleeping habits.

Conclusion

Significant changes in sleeping patterns seem to be attributable to the pandemic lockdown as found in this self-reported student survey. While daytime sleepiness decreased and earlier overall bedtimes were noted, the impact on the irregularity of sleeping and learning patterns seems to be the most notable finding, as this affects overall quality of life and learning performance. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.

Morningness-eveningness assessment from mobile phone communication analysis

Human behaviour follows a 24-h rhythm and is known to be governed by the individual chronotypes. Due to the widespread use of technology in our daily lives, it is possible to record the activities of individuals through their different digital traces. In the present study we utilise a large mobile phone communication dataset containing time stamps of calls and text messages to study the circadian rhythms of anonymous users in a European country. After removing the effect of the synchronization of East-West sun progression with the calling activity, we used two closely related approaches to heuristically compute the chronotypes of the individuals in the dataset, to identify them as morning persons or “larks” and evening persons or “owls”. Using the computed chronotypes we showed how the chronotype is largely dependent on age with younger cohorts being more likely to be owls than older cohorts. Moreover, our analysis showed how on average females have distinctly different chronotypes from males. Younger females are more larkish than males while older females are more owlish. Finally, we also studied the period of low calling activity for each of the users which is considered as a marker of their sleep period during the night. We found that while “extreme larks” tend to sleep more than “extreme owls” on the weekends, we do not observe much variation between them on weekdays. In addition, we have observed that women tend to sleep even less than males on weekdays while there is not much difference between them on the weekends.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish version of the Morningness - Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) in Adolescents

Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) is an assessment tool that evaluates distinctness of daily changes as well as the person's propensity for morningness and eveningness. The aim of this study is to evaluate psychometric properties of the Turkish version of MESSi and associations of chronotypes and diurnal variations with personality, affect, sleep quality as well as validity of the scale in Turkish adolescents. The sample of this study consisted of 445 students between ages of 10-19. Participants filled in MESSi, Morningness/Eveningness Scale for Children, Composite Scale of Morningness, Personality Traits Scale (BIG-5), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Reliability analysis of the scale showed quite reliable internal consistency values. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test construct validity of three-factor model of MESSi. An acceptable model fit was demonstrated in CFA. There was a moderate and significant relationship between MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi. A moderate but negative correlation was found between MA and EV subscale scores of MESSi. MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi were found to be weakly correlated with conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience and subscale scores of BIG-5, respectively. There was a positive correlation of positive affect subscale scores of PANAS with MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi. MA subscale scores of MESSi were found to be negatively correlated with scores of subjective sleep quality, latency, duration, disturbances, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and global scores of PSQI. This study shows that Turkish version of MESSi is valid and reliable for use in adolescents. Three-factor MESSi provides an advantage over other chronotype scales in adolescence since it includes DI subscale as well as MA and EV subscales. Psychometric results were supported by other chronotype scales and clinical features such as sleep, affect, and personality.

A six-factor structure of individual variation in the tendencies to become sleepy and to sleep at different times of the day

A multidimensional approach has been previously applied for modeling and assessment of individual differences in the ability to sleep or to stay awake at certain clock hours. More recently the 19 time-point Visuo-verbal Judgment Task (VJT) has been proposed to predict changes in sleepiness level from the morning hours to the next day afternoon. The dimensionality of the VJT has not been explored so far. We applied a structural model of individual variation in sleep-wake behavior and habits for explaining the pattern of relationship between the VJT's dimensions yielded by rotation of principal components with eigenvalue>1. The responses to 19 items of the VJT, 72 items of 6-scale Sleep Wake Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SWPAQ) and 60 items of 6-scale Sleep-Wake Adaptability Test (SWAT) were collected from 1037 survey participants. Factor analyses yielded 4 factorial dimensions of morning (08:00-11:00), daytime (12:00-20:00), nighttime (21:00-04:00), and after 24 h sleepiness (06:00-12:00 next day). The model was found to be capable to explain the correlations among 4 constructs of the VJT as well as the correlations among previously developed scales of the SWPAQ and SWAT. The results confirmed the predictive power of the model and its applicability for multidimensional assessments in chronobiological and chronopsychological studies.

Relationship Between Big Five Personality Dimensions, Chronotype, and DSM-V Personality Disorders

Morningness-eveningness (M/E) is an important variable in individual differences and has an impact on many areas of life including general and mental health. In previous work eveningness has shown to correlate to personality disorders (PDs) and mental instability such as psychoticism, depression, and bipolar disorders. Therefore, a relationship between M/E and PDs can be assumed but has never been tested. The aim of this study was to assess a possible relationship between DSM-5-PDs and circadian timing (chronotype; M/E). We used the Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale improved and clock time-based measurements, the PID-5 brief version, and the Big Five brief version. Sample: N = 630; mean age: 27.76 years, SD: 11.36 years; 137 male, 489 female, 4 diverse. In this short screening a relationship between eveningness and DSM-5-personality traits, (evening-oriented participants showing a higher PID-5 score: morningness -0.208/p < 0.001; eveningness: 0.153/p < 0.001) was found. Moreover, participants with high levels of distinctness (fluctuations of the perceived energy level during the day) are prone to PDs too, with distinctness being the best predictor for a high PID-5 score in this sample (0.299/p < 0.001). In the regression analysis, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion contributed significantly to the model with higher scores on extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness being related to lower scores on the PID-5. Neuroticism was positively related to PID-5 scores. Later midpoint of sleep (higher eveningness) was associated with higher PID-5 scores, as were higher fluctuations/amplitude during the day.

Changes in sleep schedule and chronotype due to COVID-19 restrictions and home office

Background and objective

In this study, we researched the effects of the COVID-19 restriction measures on the sleep health of N = 681 German residents (mean age: 28.63 years, SD: 10.49 years).

Methods

The data were collected with an anonymous online survey composed of validated questionnaires and additional questions to quantify changed circumstances during the pandemic. Data were collected from May 18 to June 17, 2020, while governmental restrictions were imposed in Germany. We exclusively analysed participants working in home office during this time.

Results

Participants woke up about 1 hour later during the COVID-19 restriction phase, while going to bed at almost the same time as before. During the week, participants slept about an hour longer, while sleep at weekends did not differ significantly. Social jetlag decreased from 1:39 ± 1:00 to 0:49 ± 0:42 min in our sample. The number of children in the household was a significant factor predicting sleep timing. Participants with children living in the same household slept longer and sleep onset was later.

Conclusion

In terms of sleep behaviour and, consequently, sleep health, participants benefited from the transition to home office. They were able to adapt their waking and working hours better to their biological rhythm, which reduced social jetlag.

Reproductive Success, Relationship Orientation, and Sexual Behavior in Heterosexuals: Relationship With Chronotype, Sleep, and Sex

Following previous studies, chronotype was related to sexual attitudes and behavior. Evening people tend to be more promiscuous and follow short-term mating strategies and extra-pair matings (EPM), which might lead to a higher reproductive success. In this study, one aim was to assess reproductive success directly by asking for children, and, second, to obtain a higher sample size for the analysis of sexual behavior and chronotype than in previous studies. N = 1,843 heterosexual persons (551 men, 1,288 women, 4 without data) responded to our online survey. Five hundred fifty-nine persons were single and 1,281 in a relationship; 203 reported having children (1.9 ± 0.81). Age was positively related and age at first intercourse was negatively related to the number of children. People being later chronotypes had fewer children, and shorter sleep duration was linked with more children. Extroversion was correlated with number of children, as was the long-term relationship orientation. Sociosexual orientation and EPM were unrelated to number of children. Age at first intercourse was earlier in evening people, and unrestricted sociosexuality was higher in late chronotypes. Morning orientation correlated with long-term relationship orientation and eveningness with short-term relationship orientation. Number of sexual partners was lower in morning people. Men were more evening oriented, later chronotypes, and slept shorter. There were no differences in sociosexual behavior, but men were less restricted in attitude and desire. Men scored higher on short-term relationship orientation and women higher on long-term relationship orientation. This study confirmed previous results about chronotype and sexual behavior but provided the first evidence that morningness was related to higher reproductive success.

Factorial Structure of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale (MESSi) and Sex and Age Invariance

Assessing morningness-eveningness preferences (chronotype), an individual characteristic that is mirrored in daily mental and physiological fluctuations, is crucial given their overarching influence in a variety of domains. The current work aimed to investigate the best factor structure of an instrument recently presented to asses this characteristic: the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi). For the first time, the originally proposed three-factor structure was pitched against a uni- and a two-factor solution. Another novelty was to establish that the best-fitting model would be invariant in relation to sex and age, two variables that influence chronotype. A Confirmatory Factor Analyses on the data obtained from a sample of 2096 German adults (age: 18–76; M = 25.5, SD = 7.64) revealed that the originally proposed three-factor structure of the MESSi – Morning Affect, Eveningness, and Distinctness – was the only one to achieve acceptable fit indicators. Furthermore, each scale obtained good internal consistency. In order to assess age invariance, following the literature on development and chronotype, our sample was divided into three age groups: 18–21 years, 22–31 years, and 32 years or older. Full measurement invariance of the three-factor model was found for sex and age. Regarding differences between sexes, females did not differ significantly from males in Morning Affect, but scored significantly lower on Eveningness and higher on Distinctness; this last result has been consistent across validation studies of the MESSi. With respect to age differences, the oldest group scored lower on Eveningness and Distinctness in comparison with the other two age-groups; the intermediate group (age: 22–31) scored lower on Morning Affect when compared to both the younger and older age groups. Additionally, both Eveningness and Distinctness were negatively correlated with age. This latter relation has been consistently reported in other validation studies. Our results reinforce the idea that the MESSi assesses three different components of chronotype in a reliable manner and that this instrument can be used to explore sex and age differences.