An analysis of the "eveningness-morningness" dimension in "depressive" college students.
BACKGROUND
Circadian variability in depression has not been well characterized with respect to the "eveningness-morningness" dimension.


METHODS
The "eveningness-morningness" dimension, as measured by the Home and Ostberg questionnaire, was examined among a student population (n = 1617) that was named as "depressive". Three depression scales (BDI, GDS-SF, and CESD) were used to determine "depressiveness". The Horne and Ostberg questionnaire was used to measure the degree of "eveningness-morningness". It was hypothesized that there would be negative and significant correlations between the scores on the Horne and Ostberg questionnaire and the depression scales. Consequently, it was expected that there would be a significantly higher number of evening types than the morning types among the participants identified as "depressives".


RESULTS
There were significant, negative correlations between the Horne and Ostberg questionnaire scores and the responses on the 3 depression scales (for BDI r= -.174, GDS-SF r= -.182, CESD r = -.176, all p < .001). Also, a significantly higher incidence of evening types than of the morning types among the "depressive" students was found (chi2 = 11.18, p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
It is uncertain to what extent these data generalize to clinical populations.


CONCLUSIONS
"Depressive" college students are more likely to be evening types.
Chelminski
I
I
Department of Psychology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks 58202-8380, USA.
Ferraro
F R
FR
Petros
T V
TV
Plaud
J J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities