Hormones · Melatonin

Evening chronotype is associated with greater social jetlag and higher obsessive-compulsive symptom scores in healthy adults.

In a cross-sectional study of 95 healthy adults, evening chronotypes had significantly longer social jetlag than morning or intermediate types (F=16.70, p<.001). Evening chronotype was also linked to higher obsessive-compulsive symptom scores (p=.027), though overall psychiatric distress did not differ across chronotypes.

1 min read•Updated Jul 17, 2026•0 RCTs•View structured evidence →
Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.

Evening chronotype is associated with greater social jetlag and higher obsessive-compulsive symptom scores in healthy adults. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).

The Claim

Evening chronotype is associated with greater social jetlag and higher obsessive-compulsive symptom scores in healthy adults.

This conclusion is most relevant to: 95 relatively young, university-affiliated students and staff (healthy adults)..

What the Research Shows

The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:

  • ▸Biological and social rhythm differences, daily melatonin secretion and psychiatric symptoms in healthy adults. (International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice, 2026) —

How It Works

The proposed biological pathway:

  • ▸Evening chronotype predisposes to misalignment between biological and social schedules
  • ▸This misalignment (social jetlag) may contribute to circadian disruption
  • ▸Circadian disruption may increase vulnerability to specific psychiatric symptoms (e.g., obsessive-compulsive)
  • ▸Observed link between eveningness and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Who Might Benefit

Evidence fit by population:

  • ▸95 relatively young, university-affiliated students and staff (healthy adults).

Limitations & Caveats

Important context when interpreting this evidence:

  • ▸Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ▸Melatonin sampling was limited to overnight workday urine, not controlled for light exposure or sleep timing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is social jetlag?▼

Social jetlag is the difference in midsleep timing between workdays and free days, reflecting misalignment between biological and social rhythms.

Did evening chronotypes have higher overall psychiatric distress?▼

No, total SCL-90-R scores did not differ across chronotypes (p=.367), but obsessive-compulsive symptoms were specifically higher in the evening group.

Was melatonin secretion different between chronotypes?▼

No, overnight urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT) did not differ by chronotype (p=.442) and was not associated with social jetlag.

What was the relationship between BMI and melatonin?▼

BMI correlated inversely with 6-SMT (r=-0.21, p=.043), suggesting a potential metabolic link.

References

  1. 1.E&#x11f;ilmez &#xdc;, Ekici F, Kande&#x11f;er A, Selvi Y. “Biological and social rhythm differences, daily melatonin secretion and psychiatric symptoms in healthy adults..” International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice, 2026. PMID: 42372286 DOI: 10.1080/13651501.2026.2695468
Disclaimer: This article is auto-generated from structured research data for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.