Diurnal variation in anxiety and activity is influenced by chronotype and probable anxiety-related disorder status

Jun 8, 2024Psychiatry research

Daily changes in anxiety and activity vary with sleep-wake preference and possible anxiety disorder

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Abstract

Evening chronotypes reported higher anxiety symptoms, particularly in the evening hours, among a community sample of 410 adults.

Anxiety symptoms vary significantly throughout the day, influenced by chronotype.
Evening chronotypes engage less in daily activities, especially in the morning.
Individuals with evening chronotypes and probable generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) experience increased anxiety symptoms in the evening.
Patterns of anxiety symptoms and daily activity engagement differ based on chronotype.

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Anxiety symptoms vary moment-to-moment within a day. One factor that may influence these variations is chronotype. Evening chronotypes prefer to engage in activities (e.g., sleep, physical and social activity) later in the day, and evening chronotype is implicated in psychopathology, including anxiety-related disorders. However, it is unknown whether chronotype influences diurnal variation in anxiety symptoms and whether these effects are amplified in individuals with a probable anxiety-related disorder. We examined the diurnal variation in anxiety symptoms and daily activities in morning and evening chronotypes with and without probable generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a community sample of adults (N = 410). Evening chronotypes reported higher anxiety symptoms, particularly in the evening hours, and lower engagement in daily activities, predominantly in the morning hours. Evening chronotypes with probable GAD or OCD reported worse anxiety symptoms in the evening. Our findings indicate that anxiety symptoms and engagement in daily activities fluctuate considerably across the day, and these patterns differ depending on chronotype. Evening chronotypes have more anxiety symptoms in the evening, despite preferring this time of day. Personalized treatment approaches that consider chronotype and target certain times of day may be efficient in alleviating peaks in anxiety symptoms.

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Diurnal variation in anxiety and activity is influenced by chronotype and probable anxiety-related disorder status

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