Evening preference and depression: follow-up evidence remains uncertain
A review found an association in cross-sectional studies, but the evening-type estimate from cohort studies was too imprecise to establish a clear relationship.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The abstract links evening preference with depression in studies measuring both at a single time. Follow-up studies did not show a clear evening-type association, despite the abstract's stronger wording. Morning preference was associated with lower depression risk in follow-up studies. These observational findings cannot show that changing sleep timing would change depression risk.
Most included studies were cross-sectional, and results varied substantially across studies. Reference groups and follow-up lengths are missing, limiting interpretation of the pooled risks; observational evidence cannot establish cause and effect.
Why study design matters
The review separated cross-sectional snapshots from cohort studies that followed participants over time. The evening-type cohort confidence interval included both lower and higher risk, so the reported estimate does not support a definite increase.
The morning-preference results
For morning preference, the cohort confidence interval excluded no association, while the cross-sectional interval did not. This pattern does not demonstrate that the relationship differs by study design, and reference chronotype groups were unspecified.
The original publication
Chronotype and depression: A global systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dong X, Liu J, Wang X et al.
Psychiatry Res · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41621324
- Record checked
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