They drew on responses to the UK Biobank survey, which collected detailed information on the health and well-being of more than 200,000 people aged between 37 and 73 in 2016 and 2017.
Participants were asked to rate their mental health over the past month, their happiness, life satisfaction, sense of life being worthwhile, and loneliness on a scale of 0-10, with higher scores indicating better mental health and well-being.
They were also asked to indicate the time of day they felt at their best and worst, and their responses were compared to the average scores for each of the five aspects of mental health and well-being.
The results showed that people generally felt at their best in the morning and worst around midnight, with the lowest scores for mental health and well-being recorded at this time.
These patterns were consistent across all five aspects of mental health and well-being, with the biggest difference in mental health observed between 2pm and 2am.
There was also a small but significant difference in mental health and well-being by day of the week and season of the year, with people feeling better in the spring and summer months and on weekdays compared to weekends.
The researchers acknowledge that the study was observational and couldn’t establish causation, and that the survey didn’t include additional factors that might influence mental health and well-being, such as physical activity, diet, or social interactions.
However, they suggest that their findings could have important implications for public health policy, workplace practices, and individuals’ daily routines.
For example, they say that employers could consider scheduling important meetings or tasks in the morning when people are likely to be feeling their best, and that individuals could try to plan activities that require mental focus or emotional resilience at times of day when they are likely to be at their peak.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of considering the effects of time of day on mental health and well-being, and the potential for small changes in daily routines to have a big impact on how people feel.
So, next time you’re feeling a bit low, just remember that things really do seem better in the morning.
The University College London COVID-19 Social Study has provided valuable insights into the mental health and well-being of individuals during the pandemic. Researchers aimed to understand if these associations varied by day, season, and year, shedding light on the factors influencing happiness, life satisfaction, and feelings of worth.
The study analyzed data collected from March 2020 to March 2022, with participants providing information through questionnaires on their mental health and well-being. Time stamps on completion of surveys allowed researchers to examine patterns throughout the day, week, and year.
Results showed a clear pattern in self-reported mental health and well-being across the day, with people generally feeling best in the morning and worst around midnight. The influence of the day of the week was also evident, with more fluctuations during weekends compared to weekdays. Happiness, life satisfaction, and feelings of worth were higher on Mondays and Fridays, while loneliness did not differ significantly across days.
Seasonal variations were also observed, with mental health and well-being improving in seasons other than winter. Summer was associated with the best mental health outcomes across all measures. Furthermore, mental health and well-being steadily improved from 2020, indicating a positive trend over time.
While the study provides valuable insights, researchers acknowledge its limitations as an observational study. Factors such as sleep cycles, latitude, and weather were not accounted for and could have influenced the findings. However, the changes observed throughout the day may be explained by physiological processes associated with the body clock, such as cortisol levels peaking in the morning and decreasing at night.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of considering various factors that contribute to mental health and well-being. By understanding how these associations vary by day, season, and year, researchers can provide valuable insights to support individuals in maintaining positive mental health during challenging times.
