Chronotypes and its association with psychological morbidity and childhood parasomnias

Background: The relationship between chronotypes and sleeping problems is not clear. The objective of the study was to identify the relative occurrence of chronotypes among college students and to explore adult psychological morbidity and childhood sleeping problems across chronotypes.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty undergraduate medical students were assigned into different chronotypes by Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and they were further assessed using Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Parasomnia Questionnaire (adapted from the Adult Sleep Disorders Questionnaire), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Results: Intermediate chronotype was the most common, seen in 87 (58%) students, followed by evening type in 34 (22.7%). Evening types have more difficulties in making a decision, becoming exhausted more easily and feeling worthless than other chronotypes. Evening-oriented students showed a significantly higher frequency of initial insomnia and poorer overall sleep quality than the other groups. The current bedwetting was more in evening types; there was no difference in any other current and childhood parasomnias.

Conclusions: Evening chronotypes had greater difficulty in decision-making, and they were more vulnerable to feel worthless. No significant association was found between childhood parasomnias and chronotypes except persistent bedwetting during adulthood in evening types.