A study involving 2,266 workers in Finland has revealed that evening-type individuals, commonly referred to as night owls, are up to three times more likely to be treated for depression or anxiety compared to morning types. The research identified poor work-life balance as a significant factor contributing to these mental health risks.
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Dr. Ilona Merikanto from the University of Eastern Helsinki and her team noted that evening-types face challenges with work spilling over into their personal lives and have greater difficulty recovering from work-related stress. These factors were found to partially mediate the mental health issues seen in evening-types.
The study analyzed data from Finland’s Healthy Finland Study, which included working adults aged 20 to 65. Researchers assessed participants' chronotypes—morning or evening preferences—alongside established measures of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, suicidal thoughts, and actual healthcare visits recorded in national registers.
Participants identifying as definite evening-types were notably more likely to have sought treatment for depression or anxiety disorders. They also demonstrated higher rates of psychological distress and reported suicidal thoughts compared to definite morning-types. Moderate evening-types exhibited similar trends, albeit to a lesser degree.
The research further evaluated two key aspects of work-life balance: the extent to which work intrudes into personal time and how effectively individuals recover from work stress. Evening-types reported significantly more difficulties in both areas compared to their morning-type counterparts.
The study highlighted that poor recovery from work explained about 13% of the association between being an evening chronotype and the development of anxiety disorders severe enough to necessitate healthcare intervention. The researchers suggested that a mismatch between evening-types' natural rhythms and traditional daytime work schedules may lead to increased fatigue and difficulty disconnecting from work, as tasks that are harder to accomplish earlier in the day often encroach on personal time.
Dr. Merikanto emphasized that improving workplace policies to enhance work-life balance could significantly benefit the mental health of evening-oriented employees, who make up an estimated 12 to 24% of the working-age population.
The findings of this research are published in the journal Sleep Health.