A new approach to chronotype measurement - the Polish version of the Single Item Chronotyping (SIC) tool

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to validate the Polish version of the Single Item Chronotyping (SIC) tool, and thus confirm the relevance of Putilov’s six chronotypes. The SIC was used as an instrument intended to identify patterns of changes in alertness occurring throughout the day. The external validity of the SIC was confirmed by comparison to the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) scores, midsleep time on working days, midsleep time on free days and social jetlag. The sample consisted of 436 adult participants, with a mean age of 24.98 ± 8.41 (range 18 to 63). In a study sample, each SIC type was represented by at least 10% of participants. Differences were noted between SIC groups in a Composite Scale of Morningness. The relevance of Putlov’s chronotypology was confirmed for the Polish population. It may be possible to effectively measure chronotype with this single-item tool.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronotype six-type classification
• daytime active type
• daytime sleepy type
• evening type
• highly active type
• moderately active type
• morning type
• single item chronotyping

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Zuzanna Krajewska and Agata Pytel for collecting data for this research, Edward Lowczowski for language correction and support and Henryk Wójtowicz for graphical support.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The database, used to support the findings of this study, may be released upon application to the corresponding author.