Night owls at risk: Late sleepers linked to higher depression rates
Scientists from the University of Surrey have discovered that people who fall asleep late are more prone to depression. The key factors are sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and mindfulness levels.
Research conducted by scientists from the University of Surrey indicated that individuals who prefer falling asleep late are at a higher risk of depression. The study involved 546 students who completed an online questionnaire regarding their sleep patterns, mindfulness levels, tendency to dwell on challenging experiences, and alcohol consumption.
The study results confirmed that individuals with an evening chronotype, often referred to as "night owls", are more susceptible to depression. Poorer sleep quality, higher alcohol consumption, and lower levels of mindfulness may explain this link. These individuals, compared to "morning larks", more frequently experience sleep problems and more often turn to alcohol.
The authors note certain limitations in their work. The study was primarily based on data collected at one point, which does not allow for a definitive determination of causality. Moreover, the results may not apply to age groups other than young adults.
Potential interventions
Despite these limitations, the researchers suggest that interventions focused on improving sleep quality, increasing mindfulness, and reducing alcohol consumption could help reduce the risk of depression, especially among young adults.
Many young adults tend to stay up late and the results point to how interventions could be implemented to reduce their risk of depression — the researchers emphasize.
These findings may be significant for those working to improve young people's mental health, highlighting specific areas that may require intervention.
