Showing papers by "Sakari Lemola published in 2021"

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 morningness-eveningness 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.

Can a 'rewards-for-exercise app' increase physical activity, subjective well-being and sleep quality? An open-label single-arm trial among university staff with low to moderate physical activity levels.

Abstract: This study examined the impact of a ‘rewards-for-exercise’ mobile application on physical activity, subjective well-being and sleep quality among 148 employees in a UK university with low to moderate physical activity levels. A three-month open-label single-arm trial with a one-year follow-up after the end of the trial. Participants used the Sweatcoin application which converted their outdoor steps into a virtual currency used for the purchase of products available at the university campus’ outlets, using an in-app marketplace. The primary outcome measure was self-reported physical activity. Secondary measures included device-measured physical activity, subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect), and self-reported sleep quality. The findings show an increase in self-reported physical activity (d = 0.34), life satisfaction (d = 0.31), positive affect (d = 0.29), and sleep quality (d = 0.22) during the three-month trial period. The study suggests that mobile incentives-for-exercise applications might increase physical activity levels, positive affect, and sleep quality, at least in the short term. The observed changes were not sustained 12 months after the end of the trial.

Intraindividual Variability and Temporal Stability of Mid-Sleep on Free and Workdays:

Abstract: People differ in their sleep timings that are often referred to as a chronotype and can be operationalized as mid-sleep (midpoint between sleep onset and wake-up). The aims of the present studies were to examine intraindividual variability and longer-term temporal stability of mid-sleep on free and workdays, while also considering the effect of age. We used data from a 2-week experience sampling study of British university students (Study 1) and from a panel study of Estonian adults who filled in the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire twice up to 5 years apart (Study 2). Results of Study 1 showed that roughly 50% of the variance in daily mid-sleep scores across the 14-day period was attributed to intraindividual variability as indicated by the intraclass correlation coefficient. However, when the effect of free versus workdays was considered, the intraindividual variability in daily mid-sleep across 2 weeks was 0.71 the size of the interindividual variability. In Study 2, mid-sleep on free and workdays showed good levels of temporal stability-the retest correlations of mid-sleep on free and workdays were 0.66 and 0.58 when measured twice over a period of 0-1 to 5 years. The retest stability of mid-sleep scores on both free and workdays sharply increased from young adulthood and reached their peak when participants were in late 40 to early 50 years of age, indicating that age influences the stability of mid-sleep. Future long-term longitudinal studies are necessary to explore how age-related life circumstances and other possible factors may influence the intraindividual variability and temporal stability of mid-sleep.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Improves Sleep Quality, Experiential Avoidance, and Emotion Regulation in Individuals with Insomnia-Results from a Randomized Interventional Study.

Abstract: Insomnia is a common problem in the general population To treat insomnia, medication therapies and insomnia-related cognitive-behavioral interventions are often applied The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on sleep quality, dysfunctional sleep beliefs and attitudes, experiential avoidance, and acceptance of sleep problems in individuals with insomnia, compared to a control condition A total of 35 participants with diagnosed insomnia (mean age: 4146 years old; 629% females) were randomly assigned to the ACT intervention (weekly group therapy for 60-70 min) or to the active control condition (weekly group meetings for 60-70 min without interventional and psychotherapeutic character) At baseline and after eight weeks (end of the study), and again 12 weeks later at follow-up, participants completed self-rating questionnaires on sleep quality, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, emotion regulation, and experiential avoidance Furthermore, participants in the intervention condition kept a weekly sleep log for eight consecutive weeks (micro-analysis) Every morning, participants completed the daily sleep log, which consisted of items regarding subjective sleep duration, sleep quality, and the feeling of being restored Sleep quality, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes towards sleep, emotion regulation, and experiential avoidance improved over time, but only in the ACT condition compared to the control condition Improvements remained stable until follow-up Improvements in experiential avoidance were related to a favorable change in sleep and cognitive-emotional processing Micro-analyses showed that improvements occurred within the first three weeks of treatment The pattern of results suggests that ACT appeared to have improved experiential avoidance, which in turn improved both sleep quality and sleep-related cognitive-emotional processes at longer-term in adults with insomnia

Subjective Well-Being and Self-Esteem in Preterm Born Adolescents: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Abstract: Objective: To study self-reported well-being and self-esteem among adolescents born very preterm (VPT; <32 wk of gestation) and moderate to late preterm (MLPT; 32–36 wk of gestation) compared with those born full-term (FT) in an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. Methods: We obtained IPD from the following 4 data sources: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (United Kingdom), the Millennium Cohort Study (United Kingdom), the Basel Study of Preterm Children (Switzerland), and the Bavarian Longitudinal Study (Germany) and conducted two-step random-effects IPD meta-analysis. A total of 986 MLPT, 412 VPT, and 12,719 FT born adolescents reported on subjective well-being and 927 MLPT, 175 VPT, and 13,312 FT born adolescents reported on global self-esteem. Results: Adolescents born VPT or MLPT were not different from those born FT regarding general subjective well-being; family, school, and physical appearance–related well-being; and global self-esteem. However, adolescents born VPT reported lower well-being in peer relationships than those born FT (β = −0.209, 95% confidence interval = −0.336 to −0.082). There was no main effect of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and no moderation by FGR, sex, parental education, and ethnicity. No significant heterogeneity between cohorts was found, although some heterogeneity estimates were moderate. Conclusion: Adolescents born preterm mostly report no lower well-being and self-esteem than adolescents born FT. However, they perceive their peer relationships as poorer than those born FT.

Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Well-Being in Very Pre-Term and Term Born Adolescents: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Two Accelerometry Studies

Abstract: This study examined whether physical activity is associated with better mental health and well-being among very preterm (≤32 weeks) and term born (≥37 weeks) adolescents alike or whether the associations are stronger in either of the groups. Physical activity was measured with accelerometry in children born very preterm and at term in two cohorts, the Basel Study of Preterm Children (BSPC; 40 adolescents born ≤32 weeks of gestation and 59 term born controls aged 12.3 years) and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; 45 adolescents born ≤32 weeks of gestation and 3137 term born controls aged 14.2 years on average). In both cohorts, emotional and behavioral problems were mother-reported using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Subjective well-being was self-reported using the Kidscreen-52 Questionnaire in the BSPC and single items in the MCS. Hierarchical regressions with ‘preterm status × physical activity’-interaction effects were subjected to individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. IPD meta-analysis showed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower levels of peer problems, and higher levels of psychological well-being, better self-perception/body image, and school related well-being. Overall, the effect-sizes were small and the associations did not differ significantly between very preterm and term born adolescents. Future research may examine the mechanisms behind effects of physical activity on mental health and wellbeing in adolescence as well as which type of physical activity might be most beneficial for term and preterm born children.

Changes in emotional problems, hyperactivity and conduct problems in moderate to late preterm children and adolescents born between 1958 and 2002 in the United Kingdom

Abstract: Background Preterm birth is a risk factor for the development of emotional and behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence. Given the substantial improvements in neonatal care across decades, it has been expected that the difference in emotional problems, hyperactivity, and conduct problems between moderate to late preterm (MLPT) and full term (FT) children and adolescents have declined in recent years. Methods Data from four UK population-based studies were used: The National Child Development Study (NCDS; 1958), the British Cohort Study (BCS70; 1970), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, 1991–1992) and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; 2000–2002). Emotional problems, hyperactivity and conduct problems were assessed with mother-reports in early childhood (5–7 years), late childhood (10–11 years) and adolescence (14–16 years). Furthermore, emotional problems were self-reported in adolescence in BCS70, ALSPAC and MCS. Results In the most recent cohort, the MLPT group had higher mother-reported emotional problems than those born FT in late childhood and adolescence, whereas there were no differences in self-reported emotional problems in adolescence. Regarding mother-reported hyperactivity symptoms, the MLPT group had higher scores than the FT group in the two most recent cohorts in late childhood and in the most recent cohort in adolescence. Regarding mother-reported conduct problems, MLPT children had significantly higher scores than the FT children in the oldest and in the most recent cohort in late childhood. On the other hand, in adolescence, MLPT children had significantly lower scores in conduct problems in comparison to FT children in the cohort born in 1991–1992. Conclusions Mother-reported emotional problems and hyperactivity symptoms of those born MLPT have increased from the birth years 1958 to 2000–2002 during late childhood and adolescence, whereas self-reported emotional problems were similar in MLPT and FT groups during adolescence from 1970 to 2000–2002. Findings are less consistent regarding conduct problems. The current findings highlight the importance of raising the awareness of teachers about the association between MLPT birth and behavioural and emotional problems in late childhood and adolescence to prevent the long-term negative outcomes associated with the sequalae of MLPT birth.

Optimism in adults born preterm: Systematic review and individual-participant-data meta-analysis.

Abstract: AIM Preterm birth(<37 gestational weeks) is associated with numerous adversities, however, data on positive developmental outcomes remain limited. We examined if preterm and term born(≥37 gestational weeks) adults differ in dispositional optimism/pessimism, a personality trait associated with health and wellbeing. We assessed if birth weight z-score, neurosensory impairments and parental education modified the outcome. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science for cohort or case-control studies(born ≥ 1970) with data on gestational age and optimism/pessimism reported using the Life-Orientation-Test-Revised in adulthood(≥18 years). The three identified studies(Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults; Arvo Ylppo Longitudinal Study; Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) provided data for the two-step random-effects linear regression Individual-Participant-Data meta-analysis. RESULTS Preterm and term borns did not differ on optimism(p = 0.76). Preterms scored higher on pessimism than term borns(Mean difference = 0.35, 95%Confidence Interval 0.36, 0.60, p = 0.007), although not after full adjustment. Preterm born participants, but not term born participants, with higher birth weight z-score, had higher optimism scores (0.30 raw score units per standard deviation increase, 95% CI 0.10, 0.49, p = 0.003); preterm vs term x birth weight z-score interaction p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Preterm and term born adults display similar optimism. In preterms, higher birth weight may foster developmental trajectories promoting more optimistic life orientations.