Chronotype and lifestyle in the transition to adulthood: Exploring the role of sleep health and circadian misalignment

Sep 29, 2024Sleep health

How Sleep Patterns and Daily Rhythms Relate to Lifestyle During the Move to Adulthood

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Abstract

Evening chronotypes exhibit higher body mass index levels and greater alcohol and cigarette consumption compared to other chronotypes, particularly after age 25.

Evening chronotypes are associated with increased body mass index, alcohol intake, and smoking behavior.
Poor sleep health and social jetlag may explain the increased smoking behavior in evening chronotypes.
Social jetlag is a stronger predictor of harmful drinking and smoking behaviors than sleep disturbances or eveningness.
The association between eveningness and unhealthy lifestyle choices becomes more pronounced after the age of 25.
Consideration of circadian preferences and sleep health may be important in promoting healthier lifestyles in young adults.

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OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed at exploring the association between eveningness and lifestyle-related variables, that is, body mass index, alcohol, and cigarette consumption, in adults (18-40years), focusing on the possible moderator effect of age and the role of sleep disturbances and circadian misalignment (social jetlag).

METHODS: A web-based survey was administered to 437 participants, covering demographics, lifestyle-related variables, chronotype, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. A subset of 206 participants wore a wrist actigraph for a week, allowing the creation of a sleep health index within the RU-SATED framework. Regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between chronotype and lifestyle-related outcomes, accounting for social jetlag and sleep health; and to explore the lifestyle trajectories over time.

RESULTS: Evening chronotypes showed higher body mass index levels, consumed more alcohol, and smoked more cigarettes than other circadian typologies, in particular after 25 years of age. Poor sleep health and social jetlag significantly contribute to explaining evening types smoking behavior, while not affecting body mass index levels. Social jetlag plays a more important role compared to sleep disturbances and eveningness in predicting more detrimental drinking and smoking behavior.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants who maintain the evening trait past the age of 25years are more prone to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle, especially if experiencing poor sleep health and circadian misalignment. Circadian preferences and sleep health should be considered when planning interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles in adults aged 18-40years. Further investigations should explore the effect of modifications in lifestyle in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases.

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Chronotype and lifestyle in the transition to adulthood: Exploring the role of sleep health and circadian misalignment

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