Chronotype assessment via a large scale socio-demographic survey favours yearlong Standard time over Daylight Saving Time in central Europe

Abstract

AbstractAbandoning daylight saving time in Europe raises the topical issue of proper setting of yearlong social time, which needs mapping of various socio-demographic factors, including chronotype, in specific geographic regions. This study represents the first detailed large scale chronotyping in the Czech Republic based on data collected in the complex panel socio-demographic survey in households (total 8760 respondents) and the socio-physiological survey, in which chronotyped participants also provided blood samples (n = 1107). Chronotype assessment based on sleep phase (MCTQ questions and/or time-use diary) correlated with a self-assessed interval of best alertness. The mean chronotype of the Czech population defined as mid sleep phase (MSFsc) was 3.13 ± 0.02 h. Chronotype exhibited significant east-to-westward, north-to-southward, and settlement size-dependent gradients and was associated with age, sex, partnership, and time spent outdoors as previously demonstrated. Moreover, for subjects younger than 40 years, childcare was highly associated with earlier chronotype, while dog care was associated with later chronotype. Body mass index correlated with later chronotype in women whose extreme chronotype was also associated with lower plasma levels of protective HDL cholesterol. Based on the chronotype prevalence the results favour yearlong Standard Time as the best choice for this geographic region.