The network linking daytime sleepiness, chronotype, and emotional distress is bridged by anxiety and depression in young adults

Aug 4, 2025Scientific reports

Anxiety and depression connect daytime sleepiness, sleep timing preferences, and emotional distress in young adults

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Abstract

A total of 559 young adults participated in a study examining the relationships among , , and emotional disturbances.

Individuals who took longer and earlier naps were more likely to have evening-oriented chronotypes.
identified anxiety and depressive symptoms as key connections between daytime sleepiness, chronotype, and emotional disturbances.
Shared core symptoms across the networks included 'restlessness,' 'depression,' and 'anxiety.'
'Restlessness' and 'depression' were particularly important in linking various emotional symptoms.
Chronotype and daytime sleepiness may be closely associated with emotional disturbances.

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Emotional disturbances such as anxiety and depression are increasingly recognized to be closely associated with individual and levels of . A growing body of research is now exploring the complex interplay between daytime sleepiness, circadian rhythms, and emotional disturbances from diverse methodological and theoretical perspectives. Building on this foundation, the present study employed to examine the associations among chronotype, daytime sleepiness, and emotional disturbances. A total of 559 young adults (224 males, 335 females; mean age = 21.14 years) were recruited and completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire-Self-Assessment version (MEQ-SA), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Descriptive analyses indicated that individuals who took longer and earlier naps tended to exhibit more evening-oriented chronotypes. Network analysis revealed three stable network structures, with anxiety and depressive symptoms serving as bridging nodes that connect the dimensions of daytime sleepiness, chronotype, and emotional disturbances. Across the three networks, shared core symptoms included "restlessness," "depression," and "anxiety," with "restlessness" and "depression" playing pivotal roles in inter-symptom connectivity. These findings suggest that both chronotype and daytime sleepiness are highly associated with emotional symptoms. Future interventions targeting emotional disorders may benefit from simultaneously addressing both factors to enhance treatment efficacy. Additionally, attention should be given to the role of social and environmental factors in shaping emotional well-being.

Key numbers

559

Sample Size

Total participants included in the analysis.

0.41

Correlation with Stress

Correlation between total ESS scores and stress symptoms.

0.39

Correlation with Depression

Correlation between total ESS scores and depressive symptoms.

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The network linking daytime sleepiness, chronotype, and emotional distress is bridged by anxiety and depression in young adults

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