The role of social support in the relation between chronotype and mental health in a cohort of women from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network

Feb 6, 2024Chronobiology international

How social support links daily activity patterns and mental health in women

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Abstract

Women with an evening chronotype show higher levels of depression and negative emotionality compared to those with morning or intermediate chronotypes.

Evening chronotype is associated with increased depression and negative emotionality (p < 0.05).
After accounting for social support, the significance of the associations between evening chronotype and both depression and negative emotionality diminished.
Social support mediates approximately 44.6% of the effect of chronotype on depression and 45.8% on negative emotionality.
Findings suggest that social support may be a key factor in the relationship between chronotype and mental health among women.

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Women are disproportionally affected by psychological distress and lack of social support and are more vulnerable to the negative impact of chronotype on mental health. This study evaluates cross-sectional associations between chronotype and mental health, while assessing the mediating role of social support among women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. Women from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Research Network were included ( = 506, mean age = 37 ± 15.7, 61% racial/ethnic minority). Chronotype, depression, perceived stress, health-related quality of life, and social support were assessed at baseline using validated self-reported questionnaires. Linear regression and causal mediation analyses were performed. Depression and negative emotionality were higher among women with evening vs. morning/intermediate chronotypes (all < 0.05). Multivariable analyses adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical confounders showed associations between evening chronotype and higher depression ( = 0.004) and negative emotionality ( = 0.010). However, these associations were no longer significant after adjusting for social support (depression: = 0.12; negative emotionality: = 0.18). Social support significantly mediated 44.6% and 45.8% of the total effect of chronotype on depression and negative emotionality, respectively. Social support represents a potential mechanism underlying the associations between eveningness and poor mental health. Chronotype and social support should be considered in interventions for the promotion of mental health in women. N p p p p p

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The role of social support in the relation between chronotype and mental health in a cohort of women from the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Research Network

Abstract

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