A Cross-Sectional Study of the Associations between Chronotype, Social Jetlag and Subjective Sleep Quality in Healthy Adults.

Sudha Raman,Andrew N Coogan

doi:10.3390/clockssleep2010001

Abstract

Social jetlag, a mismatch between internal biological time and social schedules, and a later timing of the midpoint of sleep on work-free days as an indicator of the circadian phase of entrainment (late chronotype), may be factors associated with poor quality sleep. This study examined the association of social jetlag and chronotype with subjective sleep quality ratings in a healthy young adult cohort and interrogated the moderating effects of sex and age on these associations. A total of 1322 participants aged 18 to 40 completed the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Later timing of midsleep on “free” days (an indicator of chronotype) had a small-to-medium association with poorer subjective sleep quality, independently of sex and age (rho = 0.212, P < 0.001). Greater social jetlag had a small association with poorer subjective sleep quality ratings (rho = 0.077), and this effect was moderated by sex with there being a relationship between social jetlag and sleep quality only in males. Social jetlag did not mediate the relationship between chronotype and sleep quality. These results indicate differential relationships of the chronotype and social jetlag with subjective sleep quality and indicate that sex is a moderating factor for sleep quality’s relationship with social jetlag, but not for the association between sleep quality and chronotype.

Highlights

In sleep research, much attention is paid to the constructs of sleep duration and sleep quality.Good quality sleep is indicated by factors such as short sleep latency, greater sleep efficiency and fewer awakenings after sleep onset [1]
Our results indicate differential relationships between subjective sleep quality and chronotype or
Later chronotype is differential associated with poorer sleep quality,subjective and this association is independent of sex results indicate relationships between sleep quality and chronotype and age

Summary

Introduction

Good quality sleep is indicated by factors such as short sleep latency, greater sleep efficiency and fewer awakenings after sleep onset [1]. Chronotype may refer to actual and/or preferred timing of sleep/wake behaviours [4], and individuals with evening preference/later chronotype may experience impaired sleep quality [5,6]. Social jetlag (SJL), the manifestation of differences in sleep timings on “free” and “work” days arising as a conflict between social schedules and the internal circadian clock [7], may be associated with impaired sleep quality [8]. Chronotype is influenced by sex and changes through the lifespan (being male, and an adolescent or young adult, are associated with later chronotype) [9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion