Chronobiology internationalApr 20, 2023

Checking the accuracy of the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire for Chinese college freshmen using surveys and sleep tracking

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A sample of 1,066 Chinese college freshmen was used to validate the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ).

MCTQ parameters showed significant associations with scores from the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) and actigraphy measures.
Significant relationships were found between MCTQ variables and sleep mid-points recorded in sleep diaries.
The test-retest reliability of the adjusted mid-point of sleep and mid-point of sleep on free days was deemed acceptable.
Findings suggest that the MCTQ is a practical tool for assessing chronotypes and may aid in clinical sleep diagnoses.

Simplified

The Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) was developed to determine an individual's chronotype, and it provides information about sleep and wake times separately for work and free days. However, the MCTQ has not been effectively verified using a large sample based on multiple questionnaires and actigraphy measures. Three sequential studies were conducted. Study 1 used a large sample (n = 1066) to investigate the chronotype of Chinese college freshmen and assess the validity of the MCTQ compared with the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), actigraphy, and other related questionnaires. Study 2 verified the MCTQ compared with a sleep diary. Study 3 examined the test-retest reliability of the MCTQ at the 2-year follow-up. The results showed that MCTQ parameters were significantly associated with rMEQ scores, the actigraphy-based mid-point of sleep, sleep quality, depression, and trait anxiety. In addition, all MCTQ variables were significantly related to the diary-based sleep mid-point. The test-retest reliability of the mid-point of sleep adjusted for sleep debt (MSFsc) and mid-point of sleep on free days (MSF) was acceptable. These results indicate that the MCTQ is a practical and efficient tool with good reliability. Its further development is important for the accurate assessment of chronotypes and clinical diagnoses of sleep.

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Checking the accuracy of the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire for Chinese college freshmen using surveys and sleep tracking

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