Relationship between chronotype and happiness among healthy young adults

Pages: 134-138
V. Gobinath and T. Jothimani (Department of Psychology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)

The times of the day chosen by people to work and sleep during a typical day defines the Chronotype of a person.
Based on the chronotype, people are generally classified as morning and evening people. Extensive studies have
been done to find the effect of the chronotype of a person on his physical and mental well-being. Previous research
has found that morning people have a healthier lifestyle than evening people. The present study aims to examine the
relationship between the chronotype and happiness among healthy young adults residing at Coimbatore. The
sample (N = 215) consisted both male (n = 105) and female (n = 110) young adults. The participants were
administered with Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (Horne & Ostberg, 1976) and Oxford Happiness
Questionnaire (Argyle & Hills, 2002). The data collected was analyzed by using Pearson’s correlation Coefficient.
The analysis of the data revealed that there is a moderate positive correlation between Morningness and happiness
among healthy young adults. The morning people are happier than the evening people. Unique contribution: The
humans’ Circadian rhythm depends upon the light and other natural stimuli from the environment. Exposure to
artificial light sources during evening and night times has made human life much easier than before. But on the
downside it tends to promote more of Eveningness in people spanning over generations at the cost of subjective
well-being.