New Research Claims Women Who Wake Up Early Are Less Likely To Develop Depression Than Women Who Wake Up Late

Jun 25, 2018 by apost team

It can be difficult to wake up early in the morning if you head to bed unusually late, but it might be time to change that. New research has indicated that women who have the tendency to be early risers have less of a chance of developing depression than women who wake up later.

Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Channing Division of Network Medicine in Brigham, and Women’s Hospital in Boston conducted a study involving over 32,000 female participants, all in the nursing field, averaging age 55. The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, showed that the women who were not morning people were more likely to develop depression. To date, this is the largest research project of its kind.

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The 32,470 nurses were required to partake in a health survey every two years. They were instructed to provide details about their chronotype. Chronotypes are characterizations on a person’s preference about what time they naturally fall asleep and wake up. 37% of the females characterized themselves as morning types of people, 53% found themselves as intermediate, and only 10% were evening people.

The study found that women who had more exposure to sunlight develop a 12 to 27 percent decreased chance of developing depression than women who were more active during intermediate or evening hours. An additional and interesting note from the study points to the fact that people who had a nighttime chronotype were also more likely to be single and live alone.

Dr. Celine Vetter, who conducted the research and works for the university sleep lab, maintains the claim that chronotype impacts a woman’s risk of depression, despite environmental surroundings or lifestyle choices. She states that “When and how much light you get also influence chronotype, and light exposure also influences depression risk.” In other words, being proactive about waking up earlier and becoming person with an early chronotype can help reduce your risk for depression.

Depression is a very serious mental health issue and isn’t easily ignored. The condition can impact anyone, no matter their age or status. However, it has been shown that treating depression can be effective if one changes their lifestyle or seeks help from a medical health professional for therapy and medication.

Dr. Vetter also notes that while anyone can become a morning person, it’s important to remember to get enough sleep, lower the lights in your home at night, and spend time in the outdoors exercising and exposing yourself to enough daylight. Participating in these activities can help lessen our risk of developing depression and other mental health disorders. She concludes that “Yes, chronotype is relevant when it comes to depression but it is a small effect. Being an early type seems beneficial, and you can influence how early you are.”

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Let us know in the comments!