The influence of morningness–eveningness on anxiety and cardiovascular responses to stress

Abstract

The relationship between cardiovascular responses to stress and health outcomes is inconsistent. In this study, the effects of morningness–eveningness and time of day upon cardiovascular activity at rest and in response to stress were examined. Sixty morning-types and evening-types completed two testing sessions (one morning, one afternoon) that comprised a battery of three stress tasks and a measure of anxiety. The results failed to support a time of day effect upon cardiovascular activity, but there was evidence of an interaction between time of day and morningness–eveningness upon heart rate (HR) and rate pressure product (RPP; HR × SBP). Evening-types exhibited higher HR and RPP in the afternoon, both at rest and during stress. A time of day effect was shown for mood, with anxiety levels higher in the morning than the afternoon. These results are discussed in terms of their health and methodological implications.