Whether you (or your child) had an especially bad nightmare or you simply can't sleep from too much caffeine, we've all stayed up too late for one reason or another at some point in our lives.
But according to new research from the U.K.'s University of Surrey, being a night-owl might have serious consequences for mental health—especially if staying up late becomes a pattern.
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Published in PLOS One, the study explored why people who tend to stay up late—or identify as “night owls”—are more likely to experience depression. Such was especially of interest since previous research had established a connection; they just hadn't (yet) been able to identify why.
To do so, the researchers surveyed 646 students ages 17 to 28, having them answer detailed questionnaires regarding their health habits, personalities, depression symptoms and sleep chronotype.
Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Don't Get Enough Sleep
What are Sleep Chronotypes?
To catch you up to speed: Sleep chronotypes are essentially a way to designate the body's natural preference for when it sleeps and wake up. Some people are early birds, or morning-types, some are night owls or evening-types and most fall somewhere in the middle (intermediate-types).
According to research, 15% to 25% of the population are morning types, 50% to 60% are intermediate and 10% to 20% are evening-types.
The study's results? Evening-types were twice as likely to be depressed than morning or intermediate-types. Evening-types also slept worse, were "less mindful," meaning they were less aware of their actions and emotions, and drank more alcohol (though this may also have something to do with their being university students).
Here's what's really exciting though: Since the researchers used the Reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) to assign each participants' chronotype, we can also surmise which exact bedtime are associated with higher risk of depression—which, by the way, is also associated with a 30% higher risk of chronic illness.
Related: What Is My Chronotype? It May Have a Bigger Impact on Your Life Than You Think
Going to Sleep at This Time Can Double Your Risk of Depression
Based on the aforementioned framework, the evening-types in this study likely stayed up between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m., on average.
Conversely, morning-types' typical sleep times are from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. with wake times from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., while "intermediate" types' range from 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
Related: The One Nighttime Habit That Could Be Destroying Your Metabolism—Experts Explain
If you like staying up late, don't freak out: The heightened depression risk isn't so much a result of the chronotype per se, but rather the habits that come with it.
Remember how the purpose of this study was to identify why evening-types were more depressed? Well, they did just that. According to the study, evening-types are twice as likely to become depressed due to four specific factors: Poor sleep quality, low mindfulness, struggling to describe emotions and higher alcohol consumption.
Translation? Being a night-owl doesn't automatically mean you're going to become depressed. Instead, this research proves that getting poor sleep can have negative consequences for your mental health (and raise your risk of dementia and Alzheimer's) and that mindfulness, drinking less alcohol and openly discussing your feelings can help boost your mood and lower your risk of depression.
Up Next:
Related: Cardiologists Say This Bedtime Is Linked to Lower Heart Attack Risk
Sources
"Mindfulness mediates the association between chronotype and depressive symptoms in young adults." PLOS One."The relationship between chronotype and depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis." Journal of Affective Disorders."Chronotypes: Definition, Types, & Effect on Sleep." Sleep Foundation."The reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire: Psychometric properties and related factors in a young Swedish population." Chronobiology International. Read More Details
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