Personality traits relate to chronotype at both the phenotypic and genetic level

Abstract

Introduction: Diurnal preferences have been linked to personality but often with mixed results. The present study examines the relationships between sleep timing (chronotype), diurnal preferences and the Five-Factor Model of personality traits at the phenotypic and genetic level. Methods: Self-and informant-reports of the NEO Personality Inventory-3, self-reports of the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, and DNA samples were available for 2,515 Estonian adults (Mage = 45.76 years; 59% females). Genetic correlations were obtained through summary statistics of genome-wide association studies.Results: Results showed that higher Conscientiousness and lower Openness to Experience were significant predictors of earlier chronotype. At the level of facets, we found that more straightforward (A2) and excitement-seeking (E5), yet less self-disciplined (C5) people were more likely to have later chronotypes. The nuance-level Polypersonality score was correlated with chronotype at r = .28 (p < .001). Conscientiousness and Openness were genetically related with diurnal preferences. The polygenic score for morningnesseveningness significantly predicted the Polypersonality score. Conclusion:Phenotypic measures of chronotype and personality showed significant associations at all three of levels of the personality hierarchy. Our findings indicate that the relationship between personality and morningness-eveningness is partly due to genetic factors. Future studies are necessary to further refine the relationship.

Diurnal Preference and Correlates of Multidimensional Perfectionism, Type-D Personality, and Big Five Personality Traits

“…The results provide further evidence that specific aspects of the Big Five personality traits are associated with a diurnal preference. In line with the existing evidence, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability were separately related to morningness [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. More crucially, for the first time, we evidenced that the dimensions of Type-D personality and multidimensional perfectionism are associated with a diurnal preference.…”

“…However, most studies focus on the five-factor model of personality [ 10 ]. Here, the relationship between morningness and conscientiousness (i.e., a tendency to be reliable, well organized, and hardworking) is perhaps the most reliable to date, consistently observed in student- and general-population samples [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In addition, greater levels of agreeableness (i.e., the tendency to act warm, friendly, and tactful), emotional stability (i.e., reduced experience of emotionally reactive behavior and negative emotions), and openness to experience (tendency to be open-minded, imaginative, and creative) have been differentially reported amongst Polish [ 11 ], Estonian [ 12 ], and Italian [ 17 ] adults, and Polish [ 14 ], German [ 13 ], and Canadian [ 16 ] students.…”

“…Personality may theoretically influence the nature of one’s diurnal preference. Indeed, various personality traits are differentially associated with a greater preference for the morning or evening [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. However, the literature remains sparse, often yielding mixed outcomes, perhaps due to methodological differences concerning the sample populations and scales used.…”

“…Therefore, this exploratory study aimed to determine: (i) the extent to which the dimensions of the five-factor model, Type-D personality, and multidimensional perfectionism are directionally associated with a diurnal preference in the general population; (ii) any empirically supported relationships that remained after accounting for the shared variance between the traits. Considering previous outcomes [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], it was hypothesized that eveningness is related to the negatively perceived aspects of personality. In contrast, we expected the preference for morningness to be associated with more positively oriented traits.…”

The Effect of Personality on Chrononutrition during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Qatar

“…Limited studies have found personality traits to be associated with circadian preference. Morning type preferences, and those positively associated with restrained eating, have been linked to high scores of conscientiousness [38][39][40][41] and, to some extent, agreeableness [39,42]. On the other hand, evening-type preferences and preferences positively associated with uncontrolled eating behavior and eating later in the day have been linked to high scores of neuroticism [43][44][45].…”