Abstract
Adolescent sleep research has focused heavily on duration and quality with less work examining chronotype, defined as individual differences in sleep–wake timings driven by the circadian rhythm. This study filled a gap in the literature by utilizing actigraphy-based sleep estimates in an accelerated longitudinal design in order to better understand the developmental trajectory and individual stability of chronotype during adolescence, as well as the associations between chronotype with risky behaviors, substance use, and depressive symptoms. A total of 329 adolescents (57% female; 21% Asian American, 31% European American, 41% Latino, 7% other ethnicity) provided actigraphy-based estimates of sleep and completed questionnaires at up to three time points, two years apart, beginning at 14–17 years of age. Multilevel modeling revealed a non-linear developmental trend in chronotype whereby eveningness increased from 14 to 19 years of age followed by a trend toward morningness. Individual differences in chronotype exhibited modest stability during adolescent development. Furthermore, greater evening chronotype was associated with more risky behaviors and substance use among males, and more substance use among older adolescents, whereas depressive symptoms were not associated with chronotype. The findings from this study may have practical implications for adolescent behavioral health interventions targeted at reducing risky behaviors and substance use among youth.
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M. K. developed the study concept, performed analyses, and drafted the manuscript. A. J. F. developed the study concept, collected data, and provided extensive input on analyses and the manuscript. S. B. provided extensive input on analyses and the manuscript. D. M. A. was involved in data collection, provided input on analyses and the manuscript. M. R. I. was involved in data collection, provided input on analyses and the manuscript. H. M. was involved in data collection, provided input on analyses and the manuscript. All authors interpreted the results, and read and approved of the final manuscript.
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This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01-HD062547); the UCLA California Center for Population Research, which was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R24-HD041022); and the UCLA Older Americans Independence Center, which was supported by the National Institute on Aging (P30-AG017265 and P30-AG028748) awarded to A. J. F. Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development T32 Fellowship awarded to M. K. (5T32HD091059).
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Karan, M., Bai, S., Almeida, D.M. et al. Sleep–Wake Timings in Adolescence: Chronotype Development and Associations with Adjustment. J Youth Adolescence 50, 628–640 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01407-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01407-1