Evening individuals exhibit higher impulsivity levels compared to early risers.

Evening individuals exhibit higher impulsivity levels compared to early risers.

Unleashing the Night Owls: A Fresh Look at Impulsivity in Teens

Discovering a fascinating twist, a recent study reveals that teenagers, who publicly declare themselves as "night owls," are found to be more impulsive than their "morning lark" counterparts. These late-loving teenagers show higher levels of negative urgency and lower perseverance, meaning they're more likely to act rashly under stress and toss difficult tasks to the side.

Surprisingly, researchers failed to spot a link between biological circadian timing and impulsivity, suggesting psychological or behavioral factors could be the primary drivers. A total of 210 teen participants were involved in this study, with an average age of 17 and 60.5% being female.

Lead author Riya Mirchandaney, a doctoral candidate in clinical-health psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, explained, "We didn't find a significant connection between dim light melatonin onset and impulsivity in our sample. This points towards unmeasured psychological or behavioral factors potentially impacting both impulsivity and self-assessed circadian preference, regardless of an individual's internal circadian clock."

Fundamentally, circadian rhythms are the natural, internal timekeeping systems found in living beings and are synchronized with the 24-hour light-dark cycle. Circadian preference determines an individual's desired sleep-wake schedule, which can be objectively measured using saliva or blood samples to detect dim light melatonin onset.

If the findings hold up, they could pave the way for future research aimed at helping teenagers avoid the negative repercussions associated with impulsivity—a known contributor to substance abuse and reckless behaviors. Adolescence is a crucial stage where impulsivity peaks, and interventions that encourage earlier sleep times or better align sleep patterns with circadian rhythms might help mitigate its impact on developing brain and behavior.

According to Mirchandaney, "Adolescence may constitute an opportune moment to prevent outcomes related to impulsiveness through chronotherapeutic interventions designed to advance sleep and circadian timing."

The study was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism within the National Institutes of Health.

Boosting Boosting Adolescent Impulse Control through Circadian Rhythm Interventions

Adolescence marks a critical phase when impulsivity reaches an apex, meaning interventions that guide sleep patterns closer to natural circadian rhythms could aid in reducing the risks associated with impulsive behavior. Dealing with impulsivity affects a broad range of aspects, from risky behaviors, substance use, and even academic performance.

Chronotherapeutic approaches target sleep patterns to sync with circadian rhythms, potentially reducing impulsivity risks by:

• Advancing Sleep Phase: Encouraging teens to head to bed earlier and rise earlier could help shift them from a night owl to a morning lark, reducing negative urgency and fostering better perseverance.
• Behavioral Sleep Interventions: Programs that help teens establish consistent sleep routines and reduce bedtime delays can stabilize sleep-wake cycles, supporting better sleep regulation and impulse control.
• Light Therapy: Exposure to bright light in the mornings can synchronize circadian phases, making teens feel tired earlier and awake earlier, potentially counterbalancing the impulsive tendencies linked to being a night owl.
• Sleep Hygiene Education: Educating teenagers about maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, limiting screen time before bed, and creating a conducive sleep environment can improve sleep regulation and, by extension, impulse control.

Studies also suggest that teens with ADHD are more susceptible to the night owl syndrome due to sleep pattern disruptions that further complicate circadian rhythms. Dialing into this biological link and addressing it via chronotherapeutic interventions specifically designed for ADHD may contribute positively to behavioral regulation in these teens.

1. The study's findings could lead to research focusing on ways to help impulsive teenagers, as impulsivity is linked to substance abuse and reckless behaviors.
2. In the study, psychological or behavioral factors were suggested as the primary drivers of impulsivity, rather than biological circadian timing.
3. Researchers found no significant connection between biological circadian timing and impulsivity, indicating that unmeasured psychological or behavioral factors could potentially influence both impulsivity and sleep-wake schedules.
4. Chronotherapeutic approaches, targeting sleep patterns to align with circadian rhythms, could help reduce the risks associated with impulsive behavior by advancing sleep phase, implementing behavioral sleep interventions, using light therapy, and enhancing sleep hygiene education.
5. Teens with ADHD may be more susceptible to the night owl syndrome due to sleep pattern disruptions that further complicate circadian rhythms, and chronotherapeutic interventions specifically designed for ADHD may offer a positive contribution to their behavioral regulation.
6. Neuroscience and psychology play a crucial role in understanding the intricacies of circadian rhythms, and findings from such research can lead to strategies for promoting health and wellness, including fitness and exercise, mental health, and education and self-development.
7. The use of CBD, a compound found in cannabis, has been studied for its possible impact on neurological disorders and sleep, and further research may reveal potential benefits for managing sleep disorders and stress, which in turn could affect impulse control.

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