Circadian Preference Is Associated With Emotional and Affective Temperaments

Jun 28, 2012Chronobiology international

Natural daily activity patterns are linked to emotional and mood traits

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Abstract

A total of 6,436 subjects were surveyed to explore the connection between circadian preference and emotional temperament.

Temperament correlated more strongly with daily energy levels than with circadian preference.
Evening types exhibited a less adaptive emotional profile compared to morning and intermediate types.
High and stable daily energy was positively associated with emotional dimensions such as Volition, Coping, and Control.
Morning types demonstrated higher levels of emotional control, coping, volition, and caution compared to evening types.
Cyclothymic and euphoric temperaments were linked to an evening preference, which may relate to bipolar disorders.
A combined assessment of circadian energy levels and temperament could enhance the evaluation of psychiatric patients.

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Chronotype has long been associated with mental disorders and temperamental features. This study aims to investigate the association of circadian preference with a new model for emotional and affective temperament. In this Web survey, 6436 subjects (27.2% males) answered the Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament Scale (AFECTS), the Circadian Energy Scale (CIRENS), and questions on subjective sleep parameters for a sleep-based chronotype measure. Temperament was more strongly correlated with daily energy score than with chronotype. For emotional dimensions, Volition, Coping, and Control positively correlated with high and stable daily energy, contrary to Sensitivity. Evening types showed a less adaptive emotional profile than morning and intermediate types, who showed a relatively similar emotional pattern. Focus and order (facets of Control), energy (facet of Volition), caution (facet of Inhibition), and problem facing (facet of Coping) were distinctive for the three circadian types, being particularly low in evening types and high in morning types. Differences between affective temperaments were more pronounced for morning and afternoon than for evening scores. Cyclothymic and euphoric temperaments, which relate to bipolar disorders, and apathetic, volatile, and disinhibited temperaments, which relate to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), showed the latest chronotype (i.e., evening preference). In conclusion, temperament was more associated with absolute energy levels than with chronotype. Evening types had less emotional control, coping, volition, and caution, and more affective instability and externalization. The circadian daily energy profile can be very informative about human temperament and vice versa, and their combined assessment may be useful in the evaluation of psychiatric patients.

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Circadian Preference Is Associated With Emotional and Affective Temperaments

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