Morningness–eveningness interferes with perceived health, physical activity, diet and stress levels in working women: A cross-sectional study

Is evening chronotype associated with higher alcohol consumption? A systematic review and meta-analysis

A broader understanding of whether and to what extent chronotype should be considered a risk factor for alcohol consumption is needed. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence on the association between evening chronotype and alcohol consumption. A systematic search of observational studies on this association was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO databases up to April 30th, 2023. Random-effect models estimated the pooled odds ratio (OR) of alcohol consumption according to chronotype. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Quality Assessment tool for Observational Cohorts and Cross-sectional Studies from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute were followed. A total of 33 studies involving 28 207 individuals (age range: 18-93 years) were included in this review. Overall, most studies indicated a higher volume and frequency of alcohol consumption in evening-type individuals than in individuals with different chronotypes. Additionally, a meta-analysis including 13 studies showed that evening-type individuals were 41% more likely to consume alcohol than those with other chronotypes (OR = 1.41, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-1.66; I2 = 38.0%). Limitations of the present findings are the predominance of cross-sectional studies and varied definitions of alcohol consumption. The available evidence supports an association between the evening chronotype and alcohol consumption. The evening-type population, especially young adults, is a specific target for educational interventions for preventing or reducing alcohol consumption.PROSPERO number: CRD42022343778.

Evening chronotype predicts dropout of physical exercise: a prospective analysis

Purpose

Eveningness preference to sleep/wake and perform physical/cognitive activities has been associated with worse health outcomes, when compared to morningness preference. Physical activity is one potential mediator that could explain this relationship; however, most of these evidences come from cross-sectional design studies. Our goal was to assess whether chronotype could predict the risk of dropout of physical exercise programs.

Methods

We followed 153 newly enrolled volunteers at three different gyms, from both sexes, aged between 18 and 65 years, during 12 weeks. The daily frequency of exercises in the programs was objectively measured (gym's electronic turnstiles). Using questionnaires, we collected data of variables related to demographic characteristics, health, physical activity, sleep, anthropometric and chronobiological parameters (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire-MEQ). Two multivariate models were created using Cox regression analysis to test the risk of dropout of physical exercise practice. Both models accounted for age, educational level, civil status, membership plan duration, physical exercise practice frequency during week 1 and chronotype (MEQ score and chronotypes).

Results

Model 1 results showed that higher MEQ score was associated with a lower chance of quitting the program (HR = 0.98; CI95% 0.95-1.00; p = 0.046). Considering the chronotypes, E-types showed the highest dropout risk compared to that of M-types (HR = 2.22; CI95% 1.09-4.52; p = 0.027).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that chronotype is another variable to be considered in future studies on promoting PAs in formal environments. Likewise, the practice frequency during week 1 and duration of membership plan also deserve more attention in additional studies.

Association between Chronotype, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The aim of this systematic review is to compile and assess the scientific evidence about the relationship between chronotypes and physical activity (PA). Methods: A systematic review was executed using a structured electronic search in PubMED, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo and Trip Database. The searches employed keywords such as chronotype, sleep, acrophase, chronotype preference, morningness, physical activity and sedentary, using MeSH terms. JBI critical tools were used to appraise methodological aspects.

RESULTS

This systematic review includes 23 studies and a total of 505,375 participants. The results show that evening chronotypes are associated with less PA and more time in sedentary activities. It occurs independently of the instruments used to collect information about chronotype and PA. Nevertheless, this association could be mitigated in young populations and university stages.

CONCLUSIONS

The chronotypes are clearly associated with the PA level and the sedentary behaviour, especially in the population over their mid-twenties. Evening chronotypes are associated with less PA and more time in sedentary activities compared to morning chronotypes.

Eveningness is associated with sedentary behavior and increased 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease: the SCAPIS pilot cohort

Chronotype reflects individual preferences for timing activities throughout the day, determined by the circadian system, environment and behavior. The relationship between chronotype, physical activity, and cardiovascular health has not been established. We studied the association between chronotype, physical activity patterns, and an estimated 10-year risk of first-onset cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) pilot cohort. A cross-sectional analysis was performed in a middle-aged population (n = 812, 48% male). Self-assessed chronotype was classified as extreme morning, moderate morning, intermediate, moderate evening, or extreme evening. Time spent sedentary (SED) and in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were derived from hip accelerometer. The newly introduced Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) model was used to estimate CVD risk based on gender, age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, and non-HDL cholesterol. Extreme evening chronotypes exhibited the most sedentary lifestyle and least MVPA (55.3 ± 10.2 and 5.3 ± 2.9% of wear-time, respectively), with a dose-dependent relationship between chronotype and SED/MVPA (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). In a multivariate generalized linear regression model, extreme evening chronotype was associated with increased SCORE2 risk compared to extreme morning type independent of confounders (β = 0.45, SE = 0.21, p = 0.031). Mediation analysis indicated SED was a significant mediator of the relationship between chronotype and SCORE2. Evening chronotype is associated with unhealthier physical activity patterns and poorer cardiovascular health compared to morning chronotype. Chronotype should be considered in lifestyle counseling and primary prevention programs as a potential modifiable risk factor.

The mediating effect of attachment insecurity on circadian consequences of childhood trauma

Circadian preferences have been associated with mental health as well as social and physical health in recent years. However, factors associated with circadian preferences have not been fully elucidated. The main aim of this study is to investigate the associations of childhood trauma and attachment styles with circadian preferences. A total of 673 participants were evaluated using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire 28 (CTQ-28), and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire. The results indicated that 14.9% (n = 100) of the participants were morning type, 20.6% (n = 139) were evening type, and 64.5% (n = 434) were intermediate type. Both childhood trauma and attachment-related anxiety/avoidance scores were associated with being evening type (p < .01). Moreover, attachment-related anxiety and avoidance fully mediated the association between childhood trauma and circadian preferences. The present study showed that attachment styles might be associated with circadian preferences. Further studies are needed to replicate these results and to infer explanatory mechanisms for these cross-sectional associations.

Morning preference is associated with subjective happiness among Japanese female workers: A moderation analysis by sleep characteristics from the SLEPT study

Research on mental health in working populations has predominantly focussed on negative outcomes, while studies on the positive aspects of life remain very limited, especially in Japan. Although morningness has recently been considered a factor for being happy, the role of sleep characteristics as it relates to the association between morningness and happiness has not been substantiated. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations between diurnal preference and level of subjective happiness in healthy, full-time, daytime workers in Japan. We also tested the moderation effect of sleep parameters on the relationship between diurnal preference and subjective happiness. This is an exploratory analysis from the cross-sectional data of the SLeep Epidemiology Project at the University of Tsukuba (SLEPT Study). Subjective happiness was evaluated using a single-item question. Diurnal preference was assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), in which higher scores indicate greater tendency to have morning preference. The participants underwent assessment of sleep parameters for 7 consecutive days using a waist-worn actigraphy device and kept a sleep diary. Sleep parameters investigated were subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbance, daytime sleepiness, weekend oversleep, total sleep time, sleep onset time, wake time, and sleep efficiency. A total of 205 males (average 42.6 ± 10.4 years) and 272 females (41.1 ± 9.8 years) were eligible for analysis. Hierarchical liner regression analysis was used to show the relationships of subjective happiness with MEQ score, and the sleep parameters. Further, moderation analysis was conducted by adding the interaction between MEQ score and the sleep parameters. After adjusting for age, psychological distress, self-rated health, and occupational stress, we found that subjective happiness was significantly associated with higher MEQ score and sleep efficiency but only in female. The moderating role of sleep parameters was not found. We discussed the implications of the obtained results and a possible strategy to maintain and improve subjective happiness of female workers who have evening preference.

Eveningness, depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress: A mediation model

The psychological pathways linking depression to blunted cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) are still being elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to test whether the association between eveningness, a diurnal/sleep-wake preference and CVR would be mediated by depressive symptoms. One hundred and eighty-two healthy young adults completed measures of morningness/eveningness (the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; MEQ-SA), depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored throughout a standardised stress testing protocol. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) but not diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or heart rate (HR) reactions to the stress task. Eveningness was also negatively associated with both SBP and DBP, but not HR. As such, those who reported increased depressive symptomology, and higher scores on eveningness displayed a more blunted cardiovascular response. Furthermore, the latter relationship was mediated by depressive symptoms such that those reporting higher scores on eveningness also reported increased depressive symptomology and this resulted in blunted CVR for SBP. These findings withstood adjustment for several confounding factors including time of testing. In conclusion, the present findings highlight the importance of considering eveningness when looking at the depression-blunted CVR relationship.

Diurnal preference and depressive symptomatology: a meta-analysis

Eveningness, a preference for later sleep and rise times, has been associated with a number of negative outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health. A large body of evidence links eveningness to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, to date, evidence quantifying this association is limited. The current meta-analysis included 43 effect sizes from a total 27,996 participants. Using a random-effects model it was demonstrated that eveningness is associated with a small effect size (Fisher's Z = - 2.4, 95% CI [- 0.27. - 0.21], p < 0.001). Substantial heterogeneity between studies was observed, with meta-regression analyses demonstrating a significant effect of mean age on the association between diurnal preference and depression. There was also evidence of potential publication bias as assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger's test. The association between diurnal preference and depression is small in magnitude and heterogenous. A better understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings linking diurnal preference to depression and suitably powered prospective studies that allow causal inference are required.

Association of morningness-eveningness preference with physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic social distancing: a cross-sectional survey in Brazil

Social distancing (SDIST) to contain COVID-19 pandemic spread implies reduced sunlight exposure and social daily life, which delay the circadian system and increase eveningness preference. The regular practice of physical activity (PA) is a time cue that decreased during SDIST. However, it is unknown if decreased PA may be associated with increase of eveningness preference. This study aimed to investigate if PA changes might be associated with changes in the morningness-eveningness preference of individuals practicing SDIST in Brazil. For this, 322 adults (18-89 years-old) regularly living in Brazil between March and October 2020 answered an online survey including questions considering the before and during SDIST period on PA (min/week) and morningness-eveningness questionnaire score. Sociodemographic, SDIST, anthropometric, and health characteristics were also included in the online survey. Participants self-reported an increase of eveningness preference comparing Before-SDIST with During-SDIST scores (56 ± 12 vs. 52 ± 13, p < .0001). Self-reported PA decreased comparing Before-SDIST with During-SDIST (230 ± 170 vs. 149 ± 155 min/week, p < .0001). Decrease in the total volume of PA and hours spent outside per day, and higher body mass index were associated with the increase in eveningness preference (R² = .077), although the decrease in the total volume of PA was the strongest association (R² = .037). In summary, our results show that SDIST may cause a delay in the circadian system, which is associated with the decrease of PA, a reduction in the hours spent outside per day with sunlight exposure, and obesity.

Psychological state during pregnancy is associated with sleep quality: preliminary findings from MY-CARE cohort study

Psychological distress during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Past studies have demonstrated the association between circadian disturbances with psychological health. However, the roles of chronotype and social jetlag on psychological state during pregnancy are yet to be identified. We aimed to examine the psychological state in pregnant women and its relations to chronotype, social jetlag (SJL), sleep quality and cortisol rhythm. The current study included a subsample of participants from an ongoing cohort study. A total of 179 primigravidas (mean age 28.4 ± 4.0 years) were recruited. Chronotype and sleep quality during the second trimester were assessed using the Morning-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. SJL was calculated based on the difference between mid-sleep on workdays and free days. Psychological state of participants was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Subsamples (n = 70) provided salivary samples at 5 time points over a 24 h period during the second trimester for cortisol assay. A higher proportion of pregnant women experienced moderate to severe anxiety symptoms (n = 77, 43.0%), followed by depressive (n = 17, 9.5%) and stress (n = 14, 7.8%) symptoms. No association was observed between chronotype and psychological distress during pregnancy. There was no significant difference in cortisol rhythms in relation to psychological distress. SJL and sleep quality were significantly associated with stress symptoms among pregnant women in the second trimester. Poor sleep quality, particularly daytime dysfunction (β = 0.37, p = .006) and sleep disturbances (β = 0.23, p = .047), were significantly associated with psychological distress (depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms) during the second trimester. The findings suggest that sleep is a potential modifiable lifestyle factor that can be targeted to improve psychological health among pregnant women.

Work Shift, Lifestyle Factors, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Spanish Male Workers: A Mediation Analysis

(1) Background: Working night shifts has been associated with altered circadian rhythms, lifestyle habits, and cardiometabolic risks. No information on the potential association of working shift and the presence of atherosclerosis is available. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between different work shifts and the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis objectively measured by imaging. (2) Methods: Analyses were conducted on the baseline data of the Aragon Workers Health Study (AWHS) cohort, including information on 2459 middle-aged men. Categories of shift work included central day shift, rotating morning-evening or morning-evening-night shift, and night shift. The presence of atherosclerotic plaques was assessed by 2D ultrasound in the carotid and femoral vascular territories. Multivariable logistic models and mediation analysis were conducted to characterize and quantify the association between study variables. (3) Results: Participants working night or rotating shifts presented an overall worse cardiometabolic risk profile, as well as more detrimental lifestyle habits. Workers in the most intense (morning-evening-night) rotating shift presented higher odds of subclinical atherosclerosis (odds ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.12 to 2.27) compared to workers in the central shift, independently of the presence of lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. A considerable (21%) proportion of this association was found to be mediated by smoking, indicating that altered sleep-wake cycles have a direct relationship with the early presence of atherosclerotic lesions. (4) Conclusions: Work shifts should be factored in during workers health examinations, and when developing effective workplace wellness programs.

Relationships of Sleep Duration, Midpoint, and Variability with Physical Activity in the HCHS/SOL Sueño Ancillary Study

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

Short and long sleep duration, later sleep midpoint, and greater intra-individual sleep variability are associated with lower physical activity, but previous research lacks objective and concurrent assessment of sleep and physical activity. This cross-sectional study examined whether sleep duration, midpoint, and variability in duration and midpoint were related to wrist actigraphy-measured physical activity.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 2156 Hispanics/Latinos in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sueño Ancillary Study.

METHODS

Participants wore Actiwatch devices to measure sleep and physical activity via the wrist for ≥5 days. Physical activity was defined as minutes/day in the upper quartile of the sampling distribution's non-sleep activity, capturing light to vigorous physical activity.

RESULTS

An inverse linear relationship between sleep duration and physical activity was found such that each additional sleep hour related to 29 fewer minutes of physical activity (B = -28.7, SE = 3.8), p < .01). Variability in sleep midpoint was also associated with physical activity; with each 1-hr increase in variability there were 24 more minutes of physical activity (B = 24.2, SE = 5.6, p < .01). In contrast, sleep midpoint and variability in duration were not associated with physical activity. Sensitivity analyses identified an association of short sleep duration and greater variability in sleep duration with greater accelerometry-derived moderate-to-vigorous physical activity measured at the HCHS/SOL baseline (M = 2.1 years before the sleep assessment).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings help clarify inconsistent prior research associating short sleep duration and sleep variability with greater health risks but also contribute novel information with simultaneous objective assessments.

The association between physical activity and a composite measure of sleep health

PURPOSE

Physical activity has been associated with several individual dimensions of sleep. However, the association between physical activity and sleep health, a construct that emphasizes the multidimensional nature of sleep, has not been explored. This analysis examined the relationship between physical activity and a composite measure of sleep health.

METHODS

A total of 114 adults (66% female, 60.3 ± 9.2 years) were included in the analyses. Participants reported daily light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) via diary, while wearing a pedometer (Omron HJ-720ITC) to measure daily steps. Sleep health was measured using the RU_SATED questionnaire, which addresses regularity of sleep patterns, satisfaction with sleep, daytime alertness, and sleep timing, efficiency, and duration. Multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were utilized for analyses.

RESULTS

Mean sleep health score was 9.6 ± 2.4 (0 [poor]-12 [good]). Participants reported 62.9 ± 66.0 and 51.2 ± 51.2 min/day of LPA and MVPA, respectively, and took 5585.5 ± 2806.7 steps/day. Greater MVPA was associated with better sleep health (β = 0.27, P = 0.005) and sleep health scores differed between those reporting < 30 min/day and ≥ 60 min/day of MVPA (P = 0.004). Greater MVPA was associated with higher odds of having good sleep satisfaction (OR = 1.58 [1.14-2.20], P < 0.01), timing (OR = 2.07 [1.24-3.46], P < 0.01), and duration (OR = 1.48 [1.02-2.18], P = 0.04). Pedometer-based physical activity and LPA were not related to sleep health or its individual dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

In middle- to older-aged adults, higher-intensity activity, but not lower-intensity or volume of activity, was associated with greater sleep health. These data suggest that physical activity intensity may be important for sleep health.

Physical behaviors and chronotype in people with type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Previous investigations have suggested that evening chronotypes may be more susceptible to obesity-related metabolic alterations. However, whether device-measured physical behaviors differ by chronotype in those with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains unknown.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This analysis reports data from the ongoing Chronotype of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Effect on Glycaemic Control (CODEC) observational study. Eligible participants were recruited from both primary and secondary care settings in the Midlands area, UK. Participants were asked to wear an accelerometer (GENEActiv, ActivInsights, Kimbolton, UK) on their non-dominant wrist for 7 days to quantify different physical behaviors (sleep, sedentary, light, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), intensity gradient, average acceleration and the acceleration above which the most active continuous 2, 10, 30 and 60 min are accumulated). Chronotype preference (morning, intermediate or evening) was assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analyses assessed whether chronotype preference was associated with physical behaviors and their timing. Evening chronotypes were considered as the reference group.

RESULTS

635 participants were included (age=63.8±8.4 years, 34.6% female, body mass index=30.9±5.1 kg/m²). 25% (n=159) of the cohort were morning chronotypes, 52% (n=330) intermediate and 23% (n=146) evening chronotypes. Evening chronotypes had higher sedentary time (28.7 min/day, 95% CI 8.6 to 48.3) and lower MVPA levels (-9.7 min/day, -14.9 to -4.6) compared to morning chronotypes. The intensity of the most active continuous 2-60 min of the day, average acceleration and intensity gradient were lower in evening chronotypes. The timing of physical behaviors also differed across chronotypes, with evening chronotypes displaying a later sleep onset and consistently later physical activity time.

CONCLUSIONS

People with T2DM lead a lifestyle characterized by sedentary behaviors and insufficient MVPA. This may be exacerbated in those with a preference for 'eveningness' (ie, go to bed late and get up late).

Impact of Mandatory Wake Time on Sleep Timing, Sleep Quality and Rest-Activity Cycle in College and University Students Complaining of a Delayed Sleep Schedule: An Actigraphy Study

BACKGROUND

Individuals complaining of a delayed sleep schedule are expected to have shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality when they must comply with morning obligations. The changes in the sleep schedule imposed by morning obligations may in turn decrease the stability and amplitude of their rest-activity cycle. These expectations were only partially supported in previous studies, possibly due to poor differentiation between days with mandatory or free wake times.

PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen college/university students (8 women) with a complaint of a late sleep schedule and a bedtime after midnight were compared to fourteen controls with an earlier sleep schedule and no complaint.

METHODS

During a week of 24-h activity recording, participants specified in their sleep diary whether their wake time was free or determined by an obligation.

RESULTS

The number of nights with mandatory wake times was similar in the two groups. Groups were also similar for sleep duration and sleep quality over the 7 days of recording. Actigraphic sleep efficiency was the same in the two groups for both free and mandatory wake times, but subjective sleep quality decreased on the nights with mandatory wake time in both groups. On the nights with mandatory wake time, delayed participants had shorter sleep episodes and less total sleep time than controls. Rest-activity cycle amplitude was lower in the delayed group whether wake time was free or mandatory.

CONCLUSION

Sleep duration and total sleep time differed between the two groups only when wake time was mandatory. Prior to mandatory wake times, delayed participants kept the same bedtime and shortened their sleep; sleep latency and sleep efficiency were preserved but subjective sleep quality and alertness on awakening decreased compared to nights with free wake time. Lower amplitude of the rest-activity cycle in delayed subjects may reflect lifestyle differences compared to control participants.

Temporal associations between morningness/eveningness, problematic social media use, psychological distress and daytime sleepiness: Mediated roles of sleep quality and insomnia among young adults

The extant literature has suggested relationships between an individual's chronotype (in relation to morningness/eveningness) and several outcomes, including addictive disorders, psychological distress and daytime sleepiness. Moreover, sleep quality has been proposed to be a mediator in the aforementioned relationships. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to investigate the complex relationship between morningness/eveningness, problematic social media use, psychological distress and daytime sleepiness, with the potential mediators of sleep quality and insomnia. All participants (N = 1,791 [30.1% males]; mean age = 27.2 years, SD = 10.1) completed a battery of psychometric scales, including a reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (at baseline), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index (1 month after baseline assessment), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (2 months after baseline assessment). The impacts of morningness-eveningness on problematic social media use, anxiety, depression and daytime sleepiness were found in the mediation models. Furthermore, the mediated effects of insomnia and sleep quality were observed. The present study's results emphasize the importance of promoting healthy sleep habits and sleep hygiene behaviours, and that of early detection of sleep problems among individuals who have the eveningness chronotype, because this would significantly improve their health outcomes.

Circadian typology is related to emotion regulation, metacognitive beliefs and assertiveness in healthy adults

Circadian typology has been related to several mental health aspects such as resilience, perceived well-being, emotional intelligence and psychological symptoms and disorders. However, the relationship between circadian typology and emotion regulation, metacognitions and assertiveness, which constitute core constructs related to psychological well-being and psychopathology, remain unexplored. This study aims to analyze whether circadian typology is related with those three constructs, considering the possible influence of sex. 2283 participants (833 women), aged 18–60 years (30.37 ± 9.26 years), completed the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire 30, and the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. Main effects were observed between circadian typology and cognitive reappraisal, metacognitions, negative beliefs of uncontrollability and danger, cognitive confidence, cognitive self-consciousness, and assertiveness (F_(2,2276) > 4.80, p < 0.009, η_p² > 0.004, in all cases). Morning-type participants scored lower than evening-type in general metacognitive beliefs, negative beliefs of uncontrollability and danger, cognitive confidence, and cognitive self-consciousness, and higher than evening-type in cognitive reappraisal and assertiveness, while neither-type exhibited intermediate scores (p < 0.033 in all cases). According to the results, evening-type individuals might display a higher tendency to support maladaptive beliefs about thinking itself as well as a lesser tendency to reappraise a potentially emotion eliciting situations in order to modify its meaning and its emotional impact and to exert their rights respectfully. This new evidence improves the understanding of the relationships between circadian typology and psychological factors related to psychological well-being and psychopathology. Results implications for the onset and maintenance of psychological problems are discussed. Although future longitudinal studies are needed, results emphasize evening-type as a risk factor for the development of psychological disturbances and morning-type as a protective factor against those.

The Association between Chronotype and Dietary Pattern among Adults: A Scoping Review

Chronotype reflects an individual’s preferred time of the day for an activity/rest cycle and individuals can be classified as a morning, intermediate, or evening type. A growing number of studies have examined the relationship between chronotype and general health. This review aimed to map current evidence of the association between chronotype and dietary intake among the adult population. A systematic search was conducted across five databases: EBSCO Host, Medline & Ovid, Pubmed, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library. The inclusion criteria were adult subjects (more than 18 years old), and included an assessment of (i) chronotype, (ii) dietary behaviour/nutrient intake/food group intake, and (iii) an analysis of the association between chronotype and dietary behaviour/nutrient intake/food group intake. A total of 36 studies were included in the review. This review incorporated studies from various study designs, however, the majority of these studies were based on a cross-sectional design (n = 29). Dietary outcomes were categorized into three main groups, namely dietary behaviour, nutrient intake, and specific food group intake. This scoping review demonstrates that evening-type individuals are mostly engaged with unhealthy dietary habits related to obesity and were thus hampered in the case of weight loss interventions. Hence, this review has identified several dietary aspects that can be addressed in the development of a personalised chrono-nutrition weight loss intervention.

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.

Identifying shift worker chronotype: implications for health

Shift workers are at risk for developing serious health issues due to short sleep. One cause of short sleep is circadian misalignment: sleep time is not synchronized with the body's natural circadian rhythms. Although circadian rhythms are strongly driven by the light/dark cycle, humans have individualized sleep time preferences (chronotypes) based on genetics, development, and external influences. Evening chronotype individuals fall asleep later than average and have a higher risk for developing various noncommunicable diseases. What is unclear is the association between chronotype, shift work, and risks for acquiring chronic conditions. This review is focused on shift worker chronotype and associations with obesity. Because of the paucity of research, other health issues connected with circadian misalignment were included, allowing for a total of 21 research studies. Evidence from this review supports chronotype and certain health issues are associated with shift work, even after adjusting for short sleep duration. In addition, there is evidence to support future research on how shift worker chronotype matched with shift timing impacts worker health. Through better understanding of this interface, occupational health providers can provide more comprehensive worker education on the risks associated with shift work and sleep disturbances.

Smoking, Screen-Based Sedentary Behavior, and Diet Associated with Habitual Sleep Duration and Chronotype: Data from the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Sleep duration has been implicated in the etiology of obesity but less is known about the association between sleep and other behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to examine the associations among sleep duration, chronotype, and physical activity, screen-based sedentary behavior, tobacco use, and dietary intake.

METHODS

Regression models were used to examine sleep duration and chronotype as the predictors and cardiovascular risk factors as outcomes of interest in a cross-sectional sample of 439,933 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank project.

RESULTS

Short sleepers were 45 % more likely to smoke tobacco than adequate sleepers (9.8 vs. 6.9 %, respectively). Late chronotypes were more than twice as likely to smoke tobacco than intermediate types (14.9 vs. 7.4 %, respectively). Long sleepers reported 0.61 more hours of television per day than adequate sleepers. Early chronotypes reported 0.20 fewer daily hours of computer use per day than intermediate chronotypes. Early chronotypes had 0.25 more servings of fruit and 0.13 more servings of vegetables per day than late chronotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Short and long sleep duration and late chronotype are associated with greater likelihood of cardiovascular risk behaviors. Further work is needed to determine whether these findings are maintained in the context of objective sleep and circadian estimates, and in more diverse samples. The extent to which promoting adequate sleep duration and earlier sleep timing improves heart health should also be examined prospectively.

Chronotype preference matters for depression in youth

Morningness/eveningness (M/E) preference is an important circadian rhythm indicator with strong individual variation. M/E chronotype has been found to be correlated with depression in adults, yet the relationship is less clear in children and adolescents. Additionally, poor sleep quality is another commonly studied risk factor for depression. The aims of the present study are to investigate the independent effects of M/E chronotype on youth depression using both self-report and parental-report questionnaires. We also evaluated how poor sleep quality may affect the relationship through a mediating or moderating effect. In total, 2,139 students attending grades 1 to 7 participated in this study. They completed questionnaires regarding M/E chronotype, depression, and sleep quality. A total of 1,708 parents also participated and filled out parental-reports of emotional and behavioral problems of their children. The prevalence of self- and parental-report depression was 16.8% and 12.8% among young students, respectively. Overall, 15.4% of the students were the eveningness type. Being an eveningness type was independently associated with self-report depression after adjustment for poor sleep quality (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.07-3.24). We also observed that poor sleep quality mediated the influence of M/E chronotype on self-report depression among students aged 7-13 years (p < 0.001). On the other hand, being an eveningness type was associated with a number of parental-report emotional and behavioral problems in the students, in addition to depression, although these associations become non-significant after adjusted for poor sleep quality. Our results demonstrate the importance of M/E chronotype on youth depression and poor sleep quality partly mediates this effect.

The Role of Morningness and Endurance in Mood and Attention During Morning and Evening Hours

Abstract. This study aimed at testing the effects of morningness-eveningness and endurance on mood and selective attention during morning and evening hours. University students (N = 80) completed the Polish version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour-Temperament Inventory, and two testing sessions scheduled during the morning and evening hours. Each testing session consisted of completing the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist composed of three scales: energetic arousal (EA), tense arousal (TA), and hedonic tone (HT), and a computerized visual search task. Without consideration of morningness and endurance, a time-of-day effect appeared in the visual attention but not in affect: participants were more accurate and faster in the evening than in the morning. Considering morningness and endurance, neither of them influenced the selective attention but they did influence mood. Morningness influenced diurnal variations in EA and HT in such a way that from morning to evening hours, morning chronotypes showed a decrease and evening types an increase in EA and HT. During morning hours, morningness was related to higher EA and HT and lower TA, but endurance was not. During evening hours, morningness was unrelated to mood, but endurance was linked to higher EA. It is concluded that morningness and endurance impact mood differently throughout the day, with the role of morningness decreasing and the role of endurance increasing as the day progresses.

How sedentary and physically active are breast cancer survivors, and which population subgroups have higher or lower levels of these behaviors?

PURPOSE

Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior may influence the physical and mental health of breast cancer survivors; however, few studies have objectively measured these behaviors in this population. We used accelerometers to measure the PA and sedentary time levels of breast cancer survivors and examined the demographic, behavioral, and medical correlates of these behaviors using two complementary approaches.

METHODS

A total of 259 breast cancer survivors wore an accelerometer for 7 days during waking hours and completed a questionnaire. We used linear regression and classification trees to investigate correlates of PA and sedentary time.

RESULTS

The breast cancer survivors in this study (mean age = 61 years, mean time since diagnosis = 3 years) were sedentary for a daily average of 8.2 h, in light-intensity PA for 5.8 h and in moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) for 32 min, with 16 % meeting PA guidelines. Participants with high comorbidity were the least likely to be meeting guidelines (0 %), while a subgroup of participants with no/low comorbidity, a university degree, and higher levels of pre-diagnosis MVPA were the most likely to be meeting guidelines (47 %). Older participants (70+ years) were the most likely to have sedentary time levels at least twice as high as activity levels, while participants who were younger than 70 years and not in the lowest category of pre-diagnosis MVPA were the least likely.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions to facilitate physical activity and reduce sedentary time among breast cancer survivors should consider comorbidity status and previous PA experience.

Greater bed- and wake-time variability is associated with less healthy lifestyle behaviors: a cross-sectional study

AIM

This study examines associations between the variability in bed/rise times, usual bed/rise time and dietary quality, physical activity, alcohol consumption, sitting time, sleep insufficiency and a composite index of behaviors.

SUBJECT AND METHODS

A random sample of Australian adults drawn from an online Panel cohort in 2013 completed a cross-sectional online survey. A total of 1,317 participants, median age 57 (IQR=20) completed the survey. Bed- and wake times, variability in bed- and wake-times, dietary quality, physical activity, alcohol consumption, sitting time, sleep insufficiency and socio-demographics were assessed using a questionnaire. Associations were examined with generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Having bed - times that varied by >30 min were associated with lower dietary quality, higher alcohol consumption, higher sitting time, more frequent insufficient sleep and poorer overall pattern of lifestyle behaviors. Greater variability in wake times, usual bed times and usual wake times were inconsistently associated with lifestyle behaviours.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater bed-time variability is associated with a less healthy pattern of lifestyle behaviors. Greater consistency in sleep timing may contribute to, or be reflective of, a healthier lifestyle.

Evening typology and morning tiredness associates with low leisure time physical activity and high sitting

Circadian typology is a latent trait that is usually assessed with scoring on a series of questions thought to represent the construct. But, in the classification, most people fall into the intermediate type, i.e. neither a definite morning nor an evening type, but still showing stronger preference towards either end of the continuum. Our aim was to operationalize chronotype using latent class analysis (LCA) for a 6-item scale derived from the original Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire to compare and understand characteristics of chronotype in a population-based sample of adults in Finland. A total of 4904 men and women aged 25-74 years were included. We also analyzed the associations of chronotypes with physical activity (PA) and sitting. We found five latent chronotype groups including "rested more-evening type" (28%), "rested more-morning type" (24%), "morning type" (23%), "tired more-evening type" (17%) and "evening type" (8%) groups. Operationalization of chronotype by LCA suggests that morning alertness is an important feature differentiating chronotypes. Further, the "evening type" and the "tired, more-evening type" had higher odds for none to very low as well as low PA, as compared to "morning type". In addition, "evening type" was associated with higher odds for more time spent sitting, as compared to "morning type". Our findings indicate that it is important to assess sleep schedules and morning tiredness, which then could be targeted as a potential mediating factor for health behaviors, in particular, PA and health status.

The bidirectional relationship between exercise and sleep: Implications for exercise adherence and sleep improvement

Exercise has long been associated with better sleep, and evidence is accumulating on the efficacy of exercise as a nonpharmacologic treatment option for disturbed sleep. Recent research, however, has noted that poor sleep may contribute to low physical activity levels, emphasizing a robust bidirectional relationship between exercise and sleep. This article will briefly review the evidence supporting the use of exercise as a nonpharmacologic treatment for sleep disturbance, outline future research that is needed to establish the viability of exercise as a behavioral sleep treatment, describe recent research that has emphasized the potential influence of poor sleep on daytime activity levels, and discuss whether improving sleep may facilitate adoption and/or better adherence to a physically active lifestyle. With poor sleep and physical inactivity each recognized as key public health priorities, additional research into the bidirectional relationship between exercise and sleep has significant implications for facilitating greater exercise adherence and improving sleep in society.