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Reports

Chronotype, binge-eating, and depression: the mediating effect of skipping breakfast

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Pages 707-721 | Received 04 Jun 2023, Accepted 28 Aug 2023, Published online: 04 Sep 2023
 

ABSTRACT

Evening chronotype is associated with more frequent binge-eating, depression, and less frequent breakfast consumption. The current study investigated whether skipping breakfast mediates the relationships between chronotype and binge-eating, and chronotype and depression. 272 participants completed an online survey with questionnaire measures of chronotype/morningness-eveningness, binge-eating, depression, and meal skipping. Significant positive correlations were found between eveningness and skipping breakfast, eveningness and depression, skipping breakfast and depression, and skipping breakfast and binge-eating. Eveningness was also correlated with binge-eating, and although this was not statistically significant, mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of eveningness on binge-eating through skipping breakfast. The indirect effect of eveningness on depression through skipping breakfast was not significant, but the indirect effect sequentially through breakfast skipping and binge-eating was significant. The current findings indicate potential mechanisms for the inter-relationships between eveningness, breakfast skipping, binge-eating, and depression, which may be more fully investigated in research utilising longitudinal designs.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Rola al Balushi: conceptualisation, data collection, data analysis, manuscript drafting. Richard Carciofo: conceptualisation, data analysis, supervision, manuscript drafting.

Both authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Data availability statement

The study data is available from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.