Abstract

Introduction

A delay in endogenous biological rhythms is assumed to cause undergraduate students to be “night owls,” but neurodevelopmental effects may only partially explain chronotype (circadian preference). Instead, perceived chronotype in students may result from poor sleep hygiene practices including bedtime social media use, afternoon caffeine consumption, and daytime napping. If so, then chronotype should be malleable in students to the extent that behavioral choices change.

Methods

We surveyed 1,120 undergraduate students who were enrolled in STEM courses across up to 3 time points during the semester. The survey assessed perceived chronotype (morning/evening type), global sleep quality, and daily habits that impact alertness and sleep hygiene (e.g., social media usage and timing, caffeine consumption and timing, and napping behavior).

Results

Relative to Morning Types, students who perceived themselves as being Evening Types showed 23.1% greater bedtime social media usage (t=3.14, p=.002), 35.1% greater daytime napping duration (t=4.44, p<.001), and a 44 minute later average time of caffeine consumption (even though total caffeine consumption was reduced; t=2.30, p=.022). Evening Types also reported lower subjective health (t=3.55, p<.001), with 14.2% of the association between chronotype and subjective health being mediated by bedtime social media use (direct effect: b=0.050, p=.002; indirect effect: b=0.009, p<.05). Ninety-one students reported switching from being Evening Types at baseline to Morning Types at a later survey; those who switched to Morning Types used less social media and consumed less caffeine after 5pm and they showed significant improvements across the semester in sleep duration, sleep quality, and exam scores (ps<.05).

Conclusion

Perceived chronotype is related to social media and caffeine consumption behaviors and is modifiable. Students who perceive themselves as night owls may find better health and academic success if they behave like morning larks.

Support

National Science Foundation (DRL 1920730)

中文翻译：

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0197年表型受行为选择的影响，并且在整个STEM学生的整个学期中可能会波动

摘要

介绍

内生生物节律的延迟被认为会使大学生成为“夜猫子”，但是神经发育的影响可能只能部分解释表型（昼夜节律）。取而代之的是，学生觉察到的表型可能是由于睡眠卫生习惯差，包括睡前社交媒体使用，下午咖啡因消耗和白天小睡。如果是这样，那么在行为选择改变的范围内，表型应该在学生中具有延展性。

方法

在本学期中，我们调查了1,120名本科生，他们在多达3个时间点上参加了STEM课程。这项调查评估了感知的时间型（早晨/晚上型），总体睡眠质量以及影响警觉性和睡眠卫生的日常习惯（例如，社交媒体的使用和时间，咖啡因的摄入和时间以及午睡行为）。

结果

相对于早晨类型，认为自己属于夜间类型的学生的就寝时间社交媒体使用量增加了23.1％（t = 3.14，p = .002），白天午睡时间增加了35.1％（t = 4.44，p <.001），并且平均44分钟后的咖啡因消耗时间（即使总咖啡因消耗减少了；t = 2.30，p= .022）。晚上类型也报告主观健康较低（t = 3.55，p <.001），表型与主观健康之间的关联的14.2％是通过就寝时间使用社交媒体介导的（直接影响：b = 0.050，p = .002；间接影响）效果：b = 0.009，p <.05）。九十一名学生在后来的一项调查中报告从基准的晚上类型转换为早晨类型。那些改用“晨间类型”的人在下午5点以后使用较少的社交媒体并减少了咖啡因的摄入量，并且他们在整个学期的睡眠时间，睡眠质量和考试成绩上都有显着改善（ps <.05）。

结论

知觉表型与社交媒体和咖啡因的消费行为有关，并且可以修改。自认为是夜猫子的学生，如果他们表现得像晨鸟，可能会发现更好的健康状况和学习成绩。

支持

国家科学基金会（DRL 1920730）