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Association between Chronotype and Physical Behaviours in Adolescent Girls
Tatiana Plekhanova1,2, Emily Crawley1, Melanie J Davies1,2
1Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2023
Summary
Morning chronotype adolescent girls engage in less sedentary behavior and more physical activity on weekdays compared to evening chronotypes. This highlights potential targets for physical activity interventions.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Adolescent Health
- Physical Activity Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronotype, an individual's natural inclination towards specific sleep-wake times, influences daily behaviors.
- Understanding chronotype's role in adolescent physical activity is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the relationship between chronotype and detailed physical behaviors in adolescent girls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize physical behaviors, measured by accelerometry, across different chronotypes in adolescent girls.
- To investigate the associations between chronotype and various physical behaviors, including sedentary time and physical activity levels.
- To identify potential chronotype-specific differences in physical behaviors on weekdays and weekend days.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 965 adolescent girls (mean age 13.9 years) participated in the study.
- Chronotype was assessed using a single-question measure.
- Physical behaviors were objectively measured using GENEActiv accelerometers worn on the non-dominant wrist over a 24-hour period.
- Linear mixed-effects models were employed to analyze the relationships between chronotype and physical behaviors.
Main Results:
- Seventy percent of the participants identified as evening chronotypes.
- Morning chronotypes exhibited significantly less sedentary time (10 minutes/day) compared to evening chronotypes on weekdays.
- Morning chronotypes also demonstrated higher overall physical activity levels (approximately 30 minutes of slow walking equivalent) on weekdays.
- A substantial portion of the day for most participants, particularly evening chronotypes, was spent sedentary, with limited time dedicated to physical activity.
Conclusions:
- Evening chronotypes, prevalent in this adolescent girl cohort, are associated with higher sedentary time and lower physical activity on weekdays.
- These findings suggest that chronotype may be a significant factor influencing physical activity patterns in adolescent girls.
- Intervention programs aimed at promoting physical activity in adolescent girls should consider chronotype as a potential modifying factor.
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