Night Owls Face Higher Risk of Mental Health Disorders, New Study Suggests
In today’s busy world, staying up late is a common habit for many. Whether finishing work, watching shows, or scrolling through social media, the late hours often seem productive. However, new research from Stanford Medicine reveals that these late-night habits might be harming your mental health.
Stanford’s psychiatry department conducted a large study on sleep behavior. It focused on people who naturally prefer staying awake late, known as “evening chronotypes” or night owls. While it may feel natural for them to stay up late, the study shows that doing so raises the risk of developing mental health disorders.
Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford, led the research. He explained, “We found that staying up late, rather than your chronotype, affects mental health.” The issue lies in the timing of sleep, not whether someone is a morning person or night owl.
Night Owls at Higher Risk for Mental Health Problems
The study, published in Psychiatry Research, surveyed over 73,000 adults in the UK. Participants reported their sleep preferences, and researchers tracked their sleep behaviors using wearable devices over seven days. Mental health data were compared with these patterns.
The results were striking. Night owls who stayed up late had a much higher chance of developing mental health issues like depression and anxiety. In fact, they were 20% to 40% more likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder if they stuck to their late schedules. What’s more concerning is that night owls were the most likely to develop new mental health issues over time.
These findings show that late-night habits, rather than a natural preference for staying up late, pose the biggest risk. “The worst-case scenario is night owls sticking to late nights,” said Dr. Zeitzer.
Morning People Aren’t Immune
Even early risers weren’t completely safe. Morning people, who naturally prefer waking up early, also experienced mental health declines when they stayed up late. However, their decline wasn’t as severe as that of night owls.
Dr. Zeitzer noted, “Morning types seem to understand that their brain doesn’t function as well during late hours. This awareness helps them avoid making poor decisions.” This insight could protect them from the steep mental health decline seen in night owls.
These results suggest that anyone—whether a morning person or night owl—who stays up late faces mental health risks. However, morning larks who stick to early schedules tend to enjoy the best mental health outcomes.
Why Late Nights Are Harmful
The link between staying up late and poor mental health is clear, but the reasons behind it remain under investigation. One possible explanation is the “mind after midnight” theory, which suggests that brain chemistry changes after midnight. These changes could lead to impulsive behavior, poor decision-making, and increased risk-taking.
Late-night hours are also tied to behaviors that hurt mental health. People are more likely to overeat, consume substances, or have suicidal thoughts during this time. Night owls might not realize how harmful these activities are, but they likely contribute to higher rates of depression and anxiety.
“Night owls may feel fine staying up late, but they’re making riskier decisions,” Dr. Zeitzer explained. In contrast, morning people, feeling out of place during late hours, are more likely to avoid these risky behaviors.
Another potential explanation is social isolation. In many cultures, especially in Western societies, daily routines revolve around early morning activity. Night owls might feel isolated during late hours, which could contribute to loneliness and further harm their mental health.
Timing Is More Important Than Preference
The research challenges the belief that people should simply follow their natural sleep preferences. It shows that sleep timing matters more than whether someone is naturally a morning or night person. Going to bed late increases the risk of mental health problems, no matter the chronotype.
The study followed participants over several years. It found that night owls who continued staying up late were more likely to develop new mental health problems. Even early risers who adopted a late-night schedule experienced mental health declines, though not as sharply as night owls.
Resetting Your Sleep Schedule
For night owls, this study serves as a wake-up call. Dr. Zeitzer advises shifting to an earlier bedtime, ideally no later than 1 a.m. This change could help reduce the risks associated with staying up late.
Additionally, getting more morning sunlight, practicing mindfulness or sticking to a consistent sleep schedule—even on weekends—can improve sleep health.
However, it’s important to note that adjusting sleep habits won’t change a person’s chronotype. Dr. Zeitzer compares it to a rubber band: “You take a day off, and your body snaps back to its natural preference.” This means that while you can adjust sleep timing, your body may still prefer staying up late.
Main findings of the study
So, what were the key conclusions drawn by the scientists from this study?
- Night owls are 20-40% more likely to experience mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
- Staying up late can lead to poor decision-making and risk-taking behaviors.
- Night owls often experience social isolation, further impacting mental well-being.
- Adapting to earlier sleep schedules improves overall mental health outcomes.
- The negative mental health effects persist regardless of one’s natural chronotype.
What’s Next for Sleep Research?
Stanford researchers plan to study whether certain late-night behaviors, beyond just sleep timing, are tied to mental health issues. They hope to identify specific behaviors that may lead to higher rates of anxiety and depression among night owls.
For now, the message is clear: if you want to protect your mental health, prioritize going to bed earlier. These new findings highlight the risks of staying up late and serve as a reminder for even night owls to rethink their habits. No matter how natural it feels, the long-term impact on mental health should not be ignored.
