Original scientific paper

Morningness-eveningness and Fatigue in Adolescence

Adrian Štark ; University of Zadar, Department of Psychology, Zadar, Croatia
Anita Vulić-Prtorić orcid.org/0000-0001-9259-8684 ; University of Zadar, Department of Psychology, Zadar, Croatia

Abstract

Sleep patterns in adolescence are associated with biological and psychosocial changes as a part of pubertal development, which leads to greater preference towards eveningness. This newly formed rhythm and frequent sleep deprivation are not coordinated with school and extracurricular activities and can lead to greater fatigue symptoms.
The aim of this study was to asses sleep patterns and symptoms of fatigue with regards to sex, chronological age, and pubertal maturity of adolescents. A group of 233 adolescent boys and 206 girls aged between 10 and 18 years participated in the study and were assessed using the Pubertal Development Scale, Morningness-Eveningness Scale for Children, and Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Results indicated that older and pubertally matured adolescents had greater preference
towards eveningness and fatigue symptoms. Furthermore, girls were more evening oriented, more pubertally mature, and reported more fatigue symptoms. Results of regression analysis indicated older chronological age as a significant predictor of greater eveningness. Also, female sex and older chronological age were predictors of fatigue symptoms. Pubertal maturity was not a predictor of morningness-eveningness and fatigue. Finally, we emphasize the need to include
biological and psychosocial aspects of developmental changes in adolescence with regard to morningness-eveningness and fatigue in this period of life.

Keywords

Sleep patterns; Morningness-eveningness; Tiredness; Pubertal maturity; Adolescence

Hrčak ID:

200577

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/200577

Publication date:

30.3.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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