Transitions into and out of daylight saving time compromise sleep and the rest-activity cycles

✍ Scribed by Tuuli A Lahti; Sami Leppämäki; Jouko Lönnqvist; Timo Partonen

• Book ID: 104497907
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 219 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1472-6793
• DOI: 10.1186/1472-6793-8-3

✦ Synopsis

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of transition out of and into daylight saving time on the rest-activity cycles and sleep. Rest-activity cycles of nine healthy participants aged 20 to 40 years were measured around transitions out of and into daylight saving time on fall 2005 and spring 2006 respectively. Rest-activity cycles were measured using wrist-worn accelerometers. The participants filled in the Morningness-Eveningness and Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaires before starting the study and kept a sleep diary during the study.

Results

Fall transition was more disturbing for the more morning type and spring transition for the more evening type of persons. Individuals having a higher global seasonality score suffered more from the transitions.

Conclusion

Transitions out of and into daylight saving time enhanced night-time restlessness and thereby compromised the quality of sleep.