Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents

This study explored whether sleep duration, insomnia, social jetlag, and circadian preference predicted adolescents’ risk of anxiety and depression two years later. High school students initially aged 16–17 years were, in 2019 and 2021, invited to a web-based survey assessing sleep patterns, insomni...

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Main Authors: Linn Nyjordet Evanger, Ingvild West Saxvig, Ståle Pallesen, Michael Gradisar, Stein Atle Lie, Bjørn Bjorvatn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Clocks & Sleep
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/7/2/26
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author Linn Nyjordet Evanger
Ingvild West Saxvig
Ståle Pallesen
Michael Gradisar
Stein Atle Lie
Bjørn Bjorvatn
author_facet Linn Nyjordet Evanger
Ingvild West Saxvig
Ståle Pallesen
Michael Gradisar
Stein Atle Lie
Bjørn Bjorvatn
author_sort Linn Nyjordet Evanger
collection DOAJ
description This study explored whether sleep duration, insomnia, social jetlag, and circadian preference predicted adolescents’ risk of anxiety and depression two years later. High school students initially aged 16–17 years were, in 2019 and 2021, invited to a web-based survey assessing sleep patterns, insomnia, circadian preference, anxiety, and depression. Sleep duration, insomnia, circadian preference, depression, and anxiety were assessed using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, the Bergen Insomnia Scale, the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety-Disorder 7, respectively. Analyses were conducted using logistic regression analyses. The analytic longitudinal sample comprised 1456 students (initial mean age 16.4 years; 61.4% girls). Short school night sleep duration, chronic insomnia, and more severe insomnia symptoms at baseline predicted greater risk of anxiety and depression at follow-up when controlled for anxiety and depression at baseline. Neither free night sleep duration nor social jetlag at baseline were related to the risk of anxiety and depression at follow-up. When circadian preference was investigated continuously, greater morningness at baseline predicted lower risk of anxiety and depression at follow-up. When circadian preference was investigated categorically, evening preference type was associated with higher risk of depression at follow-up than intermediate preference type, while the prospective risk of anxiety and depression otherwise did not differ in relation to circadian preference. The results attest to prospective associations between adolescent sleep problems at baseline and later risk of anxiety and depression.
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spelling doaj-art-08b96c25ecba4b8dbfca573c190d80142025-08-20T02:24:42ZengMDPI AGClocks & Sleep2624-51752025-05-01722610.3390/clockssleep7020026Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian AdolescentsLinn Nyjordet Evanger0Ingvild West Saxvig1Ståle Pallesen2Michael Gradisar3Stein Atle Lie4Bjørn Bjorvatn5Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, NorwayNorwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, NorwayNorwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, NorwaySleep Cycle AB, Sleep Science Team, 412 50 Gothenburg, SwedenCentre for Translational Oral Research, Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, NorwayThis study explored whether sleep duration, insomnia, social jetlag, and circadian preference predicted adolescents’ risk of anxiety and depression two years later. High school students initially aged 16–17 years were, in 2019 and 2021, invited to a web-based survey assessing sleep patterns, insomnia, circadian preference, anxiety, and depression. Sleep duration, insomnia, circadian preference, depression, and anxiety were assessed using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, the Bergen Insomnia Scale, the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety-Disorder 7, respectively. Analyses were conducted using logistic regression analyses. The analytic longitudinal sample comprised 1456 students (initial mean age 16.4 years; 61.4% girls). Short school night sleep duration, chronic insomnia, and more severe insomnia symptoms at baseline predicted greater risk of anxiety and depression at follow-up when controlled for anxiety and depression at baseline. Neither free night sleep duration nor social jetlag at baseline were related to the risk of anxiety and depression at follow-up. When circadian preference was investigated continuously, greater morningness at baseline predicted lower risk of anxiety and depression at follow-up. When circadian preference was investigated categorically, evening preference type was associated with higher risk of depression at follow-up than intermediate preference type, while the prospective risk of anxiety and depression otherwise did not differ in relation to circadian preference. The results attest to prospective associations between adolescent sleep problems at baseline and later risk of anxiety and depression.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/7/2/26adolescentssleep durationinsomniadepressionanxiety
spellingShingle Linn Nyjordet Evanger
Ingvild West Saxvig
Ståle Pallesen
Michael Gradisar
Stein Atle Lie
Bjørn Bjorvatn
Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents
Clocks & Sleep
adolescents
sleep duration
insomnia
depression
anxiety
title Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents
title_full Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents
title_fullStr Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents
title_short Associations Between Sleep Patterns, Circadian Preference, and Anxiety and Depression: A Two-Year Prospective Study Among Norwegian Adolescents
title_sort associations between sleep patterns circadian preference and anxiety and depression a two year prospective study among norwegian adolescents
topic adolescents
sleep duration
insomnia
depression
anxiety
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/7/2/26
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