A new study has revealed that people who stay up late at night may be more prone to traits associated with bipolar disorder.
The researchers found that people with an evening pattern (commonly called "night owls") have more difficulty controlling their emotions and exhibit bipolar-like behaviors at higher rates.
The new study, which included 2,031 adults in Italy, found that 22.8% considered themselves "night owls," while 22.2% preferred waking up early (known as "morning larks"), and 55% of participants did not express a specific preference.
The survey revealed that those classified as "night owls" reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and irritability, as well as greater mood swings. They also exhibited higher levels of emotional instability (a term referring to a person's ability to manage the intensity of their emotions) compared to "morning larks" and those who did not express a specific time preference.
The researchers said: "Our results strongly support an association between evening chronotype and emotional moods associated with susceptibility to bipolar disorder. Individuals with later sleep-wake rhythms are more likely to experience emotional disorganization and subclinical features of bipolar disorder, even in the general population."
The study also found that "night owls" scored higher on questionnaires related to symptoms resembling bipolar disorder, meaning they show more signs associated with this disorder than others.
Smoking has also been linked to higher bipolar-like traits, while good sleep quality has begun to play a protective role, as it has been associated with lower levels of these tendencies.
Professor Andrea Fiorello, President of the European Society of Psychiatry, commented: "These results underscore the importance of chronotype when assessing mood symptoms and difficulties in regulating emotion. Taking into account sleep-wake preferences alongside standard clinical assessment may help clinicians better identify risks and tailor a follow-up plan accordingly."
Night owls often have to set multiple alarms in the morning to wake themselves up, while morning larks wake up in one fell swoop, sometimes without an alarm at all. Many of them also go to the gym before work in the morning and feel more productive as the sun rises.
In contrast, "night owls" enjoy having a cup of coffee at night or starting tasks late in the evening when most people are relaxed and ready for sleep.
