Night owls, individuals who prefer staying up late and struggle to wake up early in the morning, have long been associated with certain health risks. A recent study spanning 37 years suggests that night owls may indeed have a higher risk of premature death, but the underlying factors contributing to this risk are related to excessive drinking and smoking rather than their sleep patterns alone.
Previous Research and Limitations
Numerous studies have previously indicated that being a night owl is associated with a range of health problems. In 2018, a large-scale study conducted in the United Kingdom found that evening people had a 10 percent higher risk of mortality compared to morning people over a 6.5-year period. However, these studies did not take into account additional factors that could have influenced the results, such as alcohol consumption.
The Finnish Study
To gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between chronotype and mortality, researchers in Finland conducted a study involving nearly 24,000 same-sex twins. In 1981, the participants were asked to identify themselves as morning people or evening people. Around one-third considered themselves somewhat evening people, while 10 percent identified as definite evening people. The remaining participants classified themselves as morning people.
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Chronobiology International, revealed that evening people tended to be younger and had a higher prevalence of drinking and smoking compared to their morning counterparts. The study followed up with the participants in 2018, and by that time, more than 8,700 of the twins had passed away.
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Night Owls and Mortality Risk
Over the 37-year study period, the researchers found that definite night owls had a nine percent higher risk of death from all causes, which aligned with the results of the 2018 study. However, the study further revealed that this difference was mainly attributed to smoking and alcohol consumption.
Interestingly, the study indicated that non-smoking night owls who were light drinkers did not have a higher risk of premature death compared to morning people. This suggests that the detrimental effects on mortality are primarily influenced by lifestyle factors, rather than inherent biological differences related to chronotype.
Lifestyle Choices Matter
The lead author of the study, Christer Hublin of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, emphasized the significance of lifestyle choices in mitigating the risk of early death for night owls. He suggested that evening people should critically evaluate their alcohol and tobacco consumption. The study highlights the importance of considering lifestyle factors in determining mortality risk, independent of an individual’s chronotype.
Limitations and Future Considerations
While the findings of the study are significant, there are some limitations to consider. Jeevan Fernando, a chronotype researcher at Cambridge University who was not involved in the study, pointed out that the self-identification of participants as morning or evening people is not as objective as more modern methods. Additionally, the study did not account for drugs other than alcohol and tobacco. Fernando mentioned that cocaine, in particular, has been linked to individuals transitioning from being early risers to night owls.
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Fernando’s previous research has shown that night owls tend to have poorer mental health, particularly with regards to anxiety, and that drug use can exacerbate these issues. This highlights the importance of considering a broader range of factors when investigating the effects of chronotype on overall health and well-being.
The recent long-term study suggests that night owls may have a higher risk of premature death compared to morning people. However, the underlying factors contributing to this risk are primarily related to excessive drinking and smoking rather than their sleep patterns alone. The study emphasizes the importance of lifestyle choices in determining mortality risk, highlighting that evening people can lower their risk of an early death by reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption. Nonetheless, future research should consider a more objective assessment of chronotype and the potential impact of other substances on individuals’ sleep patterns and health outcomes.
