The Associations Between Chronotype and Mental Health in Nursing Students

Background/Objectives: Numerous studies have documented the effect of human chronotypes on psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the associations of chronotype subtypes and mental health among Spanish university students. Methods: Sociodemographic data were collected electronically using a self-administered questionnaire with Google Forms. In addition, participants completed The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) by Horne and Östberg, the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results: Two hundred and eighty-nine students participated in the study. The most prevalent chronotype in the study sample was the intermediate (64.4%), followed by the evening (19.4%) and the morning (16.3%) chronotypes. Based on cut-off scores of the instruments used, the percentage of students with relevant symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress was high, 45.3%, 46.4% and 79.6%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed statistically significant differences between the total score of the Goldberg scale and the three chronotype categories, with higher scores in the evening group. A multivariate regression model analysis also identified a statistically significant correlation between the depression subscale and chronotype (R squared = 0.287) and between evening vs. morning chronotype (OR = 0.48; IC 95% [0.23-0.98]) and evening vs. intermediate chronotype (OR = 2.60; 95% CI [1.00-5.08]). In turn, the depression subscale showed a statistically significant correlation with the variables gender (OR = 2.22; 95% CI [1.03-4.76] being more frequent in women) and daily consumption of stimulant drinks (OR = 0.54; 95% CI [0.31-0.94]; being higher in people with lower consumption). The anxiety subscale showed a statistically significant correlation with chronotype (R squared = 0.309) and with evening vs. morning chronotype (OR = 0.46, 95% CI [0.22-0.94]). With respect to stress, there was a statistically significant correlation with gender (OR = 3.08, 95% CI [1.40-6.79], being more frequent in women), with chronotype (R squared = 0.141), and with evening vs. morning chronotype (OR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.16-0.72]). Conclusions: Our results suggest that students with an evening chronotype are more likely to suffer from mental health problems, and interventions to improve their mental health are necessary.