Mediating roles of sleep quality and resilience in the relationships between chronotypes and mental health symptoms

Sleep and mental health are intrinsically intertwined, but not every individual with problems sleeping develops a mental health disorder. This study examined the association among chronotypes, resilience, sleep quality and mental health symptoms amongst otherwise healthy individuals. Two hundred adults (Mage = 27.75 ± 5.11, 68% female) with no previous diagnosis of mental illness were recruited and filled in a set of questionnaires measuring chronotypes, sleep quality, depression and anxiety symptoms. The findings from the path analysis showed that the morning type had a statistically significant direct effect on a range of sleep quality indices. These included better subjective sleep quality, shortened sleep latency, and fewer daytime dysfunctions, as well as a higher level of resilience. However, it did not significantly affect depression and anxiety symptoms. In addition, the morning type had statistically significant indirect effects on a higher level of resilience and fewer depression and anxiety symptoms through the mediating effect of sleep quality indices. Findings from this study support that morning type is associated with better resilience and psychological health, which is mediated through better sleep quality.