0283 Differential Impact of Chronotype on Positive and Negative Affect Following Sleep Restriction

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Previous research indicates sleep deprivation significantly decreases positive affect, while negative affect is often unaffected (Reddy et al., 2017; Schwarz et al., 2019). However, it is unclear whether individual difference factors predict a differential emotional response to sleep loss. Though one study found chronotype predicts decreased positive affect following sleep loss in adolescents (Dagys et al., 2012), the effect of chronotype on emotional response to sleep loss in adults remains unknown. Methods The present study addressed this limitation by examining whether chronotype predicts changes in positive and negative affect following partial sleep restriction. Healthy sleeping adults (N=113; Insomnia Severity Index<8) completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (Horne & Ostberg, 1976) on day 1, and were instructed to sleep normally on night 1. On the evening of day 2, participants completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; MacKinnon et al., 1999) to sample baseline daily emotions. On night 2, sleep was restricted to 4-8am. On day 3, participants completed the PANAS post-sleep restriction. Compliance was verified with actigraphy (n=22 excluded for noncompliance), and response to the sleep restriction procedure was checked with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (Hoddes, Dement, & Zarcone, 1972; n=18 excluded for nonresponse). Results Results suggest a significant decrease in positive affect from pre-sleep restriction (M=15.63, SD=4.09) to post-sleep restriction (M=11.08, SD=3.93), t(71)=10.33, p<.01, and a trend decrease in negative affect from pre-sleep restriction (M=7.68, SD=3.62) to post-sleep restriction (M=6.90, SD=2.41), t(71)=1.60, p=07. Chronotype was significantly associated with post-sleep restriction negative affect, controlling for baseline negative affect (β=-.42, p<.01), such that eveningness was associated with increased negative affect following sleep restriction. In contrast, chronotype was unrelated to post-sleep restriction positive affect. Conclusion These findings indicate that evening types may be more likely to experience emotions implicated in anxiety-related disorders following sleep loss, such as fear and nervousness. Support This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health [F31MH113271] and a Graduate Student Summer Research Award from Vanderbilt University. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.