Researchers developed and validated the Circadian Disruption Index (CDI), a self-report tool for measuring circadian disruption, and assessed its effectiveness following circadian health education. The study involved two phases: initial validation and evaluation of responsiveness to an educational program.
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In the first phase, 244 participants completed a 22-item version of the CDI along with external assessments. The data were divided for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, which revealed a refined 15-item scale with three key factors: rhythm stability and light exposure, behavioral habits and diet, and sleep quality and complaints. The CDI demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.871) and strong correlations with indicators of sleep quality and psychological factors.
In the second phase, 72 postgraduate students participated in a 16-hour circadian health education program. Their CDI scores decreased from 22.26 to 19.88 (p = 0.002) after the program, highlighting the CDI’s responsiveness. Notable changes in sleep timing and duration were also observed, indicating the educational program's effectiveness.
The CDI fills a gap by offering a comprehensive measure of various factors associated with circadian disruption, addressing the limitations of existing tools that focus on isolated aspects of circadian health. The findings suggest that the CDI could be useful for both research and practical applications in assessing circadian health and behavior.