Anxiety, well-being, satisfaction … The mental health of people would be much better in the morning than in the evening, according to a new study.
You are not morale, do you feel anxiety rising or do you feel alone? Check your watch. Your mental health may be turned upside down by the time of day. Researchers from University College London have discovered different mental health patterns depending on the time of the day. They presented their conclusions in the journal BMJ Mental Health.
Mental health: the time of day has an impact
Does mental health varies depending on the time and calendar? This is the question to which British scientists wanted to answer. To achieve this, they measured variations in depressive and/or anxious symptoms, well-being, satisfaction of living, the feeling of“Having a life worth living” And the loneliness of 49,218 volunteers depending on the hour, but also of the day, the season and the year.
They questioned them about their mental health regularly from March 2020 to March 2022. Their feelings, their well-being and their mental disorders were evaluated. Each questionnaire, time, day, season and year were noted precisely.
Data analysis has revealed a clear trend in mental health and self-declared well-being throughout the day: generally, people woke up in the morning by feeling better (depressive symptoms/anxiety and lower loneliness And happiness, satisfaction in the highest life) while they felt less well around midnight (more anxiety disorders, weaker well-being …).
The seasons also play on well-being
The impact of the day of the week on mental health was less clear than the time. However, there was a difference between the weekend and the week. Happiness, satisfaction in life and the appreciation of life were all higher on Mondays and Fridays than Sundays. Happiness was also higher on Tuesdays. On the other hand, the level of loneliness did not seem to depend on a day precisely.
The study also confirmed the already well known effect of the seasons on morale. Mental health was better in summer in winter. “However, the season had no effect on the associations observed during the day”specify the authors in their press release.
Psychic disorders and times: What are the causes?
If the researchers have highlighted the effect of the hour on mental health, they have not yet determined the cause precisely. They argue that the variations observed during the day could be explained by the physiological changes associated with the biological clock.
“For example, the cortisol level reaches its maximum shortly after awakening and its lowest level at bedtime. However, it is important to recognize the differences between weekends and weekdays”they write.
“Since there is little evidence that physiological processes differ depending on the day of the week, differences could be linked to other factors that cause changes [de santé mentale et de bien-être] during the day. These can be contextual factors and the sequence of daily activities, which are likely to be different between weekends and weekdays. “
If the causes of the phenomenon have not yet been identified, the team specifies that their results should still be taken into account during “Planning the provision of services and resources”.
