Relations between social rhythm, sleep phase, and minor psychiatric symptoms in healthy workers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the correlation of social rhythm, sleep phase, and exposure to light with in healthy workers exhibiting minor psychiatric symptoms. This was a cross-sectional study that included 143 healthy workers. Minor psychiatric symptoms, evaluated by SRQ-20; social rhythm by the SRM Scale; exposure to light and sleep variables, by MCTQ; correlations, analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multivariate regression analysis utilized. Quantity of activities correlated with schooling and mean duration of sleep and, inversely, Mid-Sleep-on Free Days (MSF) and minor psychiatric symptoms; daily regularity correlated with age, minor psychiatric symptoms, and number of days worked; minor psychiatric symptoms correlated inversely with quantity of activities and regularity. Social rhythm variables had an inverse correlation with minor psychiatric symptoms. Minor psychiatric symptoms were explained by low levels of activity rather than by low regularity of social rhythm. Age, number of days worked per week, and minor psychiatric symptoms interfere with the regularity of social rhythm.

Keywords:

• chronobiology
• social rhythm
• psychiatric symptoms
• MCTQ
• depression
• social jetlag