Browsing by Author "Lehto, Minna-Maria"

Aims. Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental stage to develop psychiatric disorders and circadian rhythm regulation difficulties (CRRDs). Studies investigating the associations of them are scarce. The aim of this study is to examine the association of CRRDs and psychiatric disorders, and whether the association is mediated by chronotype. CRRDs include late bedtimes, alteration in sleep duration and variation in standard deviations (SD) of bedtimes and sleep duration on weekdays and weekends. Gender differences are also examined. Methods. The data was from a Finnish cohort study SleepHelsinki! Study participants were 16‒18-year-old adolescents (n=317, 69.7% girls). CRRDs and chronotype were assessed with actigraph. Psychiatric disorders were assessed with The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Statistical analyses used were logistic regression and mediation analysis. Results and Conclusions. Variations in means and SDs of bedtimes on weekdays, and alterations in SDs of bedtimes on weekends were associated with increased risk of depression. Alterations in mean bedtimes on weekdays and on weekends were associated with increased risk of suicidality, and alterations in SDs of bedtimes and sleep duration on weekdays were associated with increased risk of suicidality and antisocial personality disorder. CRRDs were not associated with anxiety disorders. Chronotype mediated the association between mean bedtimes on weekends and antisocial personality disorder. Allowing flexible schedules at school and work could support adolescents’ development, help studying and prevent CRRDs and psychiatric disorders in adolescence.