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Differences over the life span in daily life-style regularity
T H Monk1, C F Reynolds, D J Kupfer
1Sleep and Chronobiology Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Chronobiology International
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Daily social rhythm stability, measured by the Social Rhythm Metric (SRM), increases with age in healthy adults. This enhanced regularity may be an adaptation to aging, promoting well-being.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Gerontology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Daily social and behavioral rhythms are crucial for health.
- Understanding how these rhythms change across the lifespan is important for public health.
- The Social Rhythm Metric (SRM) is a tool to measure lifestyle regularity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the stability of daily social and behavioral rhythms in healthy adults across different age groups.
- To investigate the relationship between age and lifestyle regularity (SRM score) and activity level (ALI).
- To explore potential demographic and gender-related differences in these rhythms.
Main Methods:
- A diary-based instrument, the Social Rhythm Metric (SRM), was administered to 239 healthy subjects (ages 20-89).
- Subjects completed the SRM for two consecutive weeks, with data averaged to calculate SRM score (lifestyle regularity) and Activity Level Index (ALI).
- Statistical analyses examined age, gender, and demographic effects on SRM and ALI.
Main Results:
- SRM score significantly increased with age (0.018 units/year), indicating greater lifestyle regularity in older adults.
- Activity Level Index (ALI) exhibited an inverted U-shaped function, peaking around age 50.
- No significant effects of gender were found on SRM or ALI, though ALI differences may relate to demographics.
Conclusions:
- Lifestyle regularity, as measured by SRM, appears to increase across the lifespan.
- This increase may be an adaptive response to age-related biological and psychosocial changes, including alterations in circadian system sensitivity.
- Regular behavioral rhythms are potentially beneficial for maintaining health and well-being throughout life.