Naturally early risers are less likely to suffer from depression, study finds

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published 3 July 2021

A large-scale study from the University of Exeter has found evidence that going against your natural body clock preference has a negative impact on your mental health. We spoke to PhD student Jessica O’Loughlin, the lead author on the paper, to find out more.

"We found the most robust evidence to date that being an early riser, you are less likely to have depression and more likely to report a higher well-being," says Jessica. The research, published at Nature.com, suggests that being misaligned with your natural sleep schedule is linked to the poorer wellbeing, but because typical working hours are skewed earlier in the day, it's natural night owls who are impacted most.

"We found that morning people are more aligned to their body clock preference and we believe this may be because of the way society is setup to a 9 to 5 schedule which benefits early risers," adds Jessica.

If you're thinking that your body clock is a matter of preference and discipline, that's not the whole story. This study builds on previous research using data from 23andMe (you'll know it as the company behind some of the best DNA home test kits) that identified 351 genes associated with being an early riser or a night owl.

That's not to say there aren't things you can do to shift your natural body clock, says Jessica. "This is a population representative study that uses these genetics to show early risers are protected from depression and have a better wellbeing. However, people can establish routines and make lifestyle choices that may mean they are working against their body clock, and this may not affect their mental health."

What about shift workers, whose sleep patterns are all over the place? Analysis on that is inconclusive to far, but Jessica says it could be "an interesting next line of research".

Ruth is a lifestyle journalist specialising in sleep and wellbeing. She has tested more mattresses than her small flat can handle and will talk at length about them to anyone who shows even a passing interest, and has had to implement a one-in-one-out pillow policy for fear of getting smothered in the night. As well as following all the industry trends and advancements in the mattress and bedding world, she regularly speaks to certified experts to delve into the science behind a great night's sleep, and offer you advice to help you get there. She's currently Sleep Editor on Tom's Guide and TechRadar, and prior to that ran the Outdoors and Wellness channels on T3 (now covered by Matt Kollat and Beth Girdler-Maslen respectively).