A UK study reveals that mood varies with the time of day, showing higher well-being in the mornings and increased feelings of despair at night. Analyzing data from nearly 50,000 participants in the Covid-19 Social Study, researchers found that weekdays and seasons also affect mood. While spring, summer, and fall saw fewer anxiety symptoms, the time-of-day patterns remained consistent. The findings suggest physiological changes linked to the body’s internal clock may influence these mood variations.
Exploring the Connection Between Time of Day and Our Mood
Have you ever wondered how the time of day impacts your mood? A recent study from researchers in the UK reveals that our feelings of happiness, contentment, and even loneliness fluctuate not just with life events, but also based on the time and day. The findings suggest that people tend to experience their best moods earlier in the day, while feelings of despair peak late at night.
Researchers from University College London published their findings in the journal BMJ Mental Health. They emphasize that mental well-being is dynamic, varying over short and long periods. Yet, the specific ways these changes manifest throughout the day remain underexplored.
Insights from the Covid-19 Social Study
In this illuminating study, Feifei Bu, Jessica Bone, and Daisy Fancourt analyzed data collected from the Covid-19 Social Study, which began in March 2020 and spanned two years. Participants regularly completed surveys that included their mood at different times of the day, the day of the week, and even the seasons.
The research team gathered responses from nearly 50,000 participants, with a notable skew towards women (76.5%) and those with higher education levels (68%). This demographic distribution was adjusted to better reflect the general population.
From their analysis, the researchers discovered a distinct pattern linked to the time of day. Mornings were associated with heightened feelings of well-being and a decrease in symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In contrast, these positive indicators tended to decline by midnight.
Interestingly, the day of the week also had a role to play, albeit to a lesser extent. The study indicated that levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and self-esteem were slightly higher on Mondays and Fridays compared to Sundays. Conversely, feelings of loneliness appeared to be unaffected by the day of the week, while weekend moods showed more variability than those during the weekdays.
Seasons also influenced mental health, with individuals reporting fewer symptoms of anxiety and loneliness in spring, summer, and fall compared to winter. However, the time-of-day patterns remained consistent across all seasons.
Despite these intriguing patterns, the researchers acknowledge that this observational study does not clarify the underlying causes. Factors such as sleep patterns, geographical location, and weather could also have influenced the outcomes, yet these elements were not assessed.
As the authors suggest, the variations in mood throughout the day may be linked to physiological changes governed by our internal body clock. For instance, cortisol, a stress hormone, is known to peak shortly after waking and dip towards bedtime. They also highlight the importance of distinguishing between weekdays and weekends when considering these patterns.
This fascinating topic continues to evolve, shedding light on the complex relationship between our daily routines and mental health.