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Cited by 73Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and related disordersSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Latitude affects morningness–eveningness: evidence for the environment hypothesis based on a systematic review

Open access
Randler, Christoph, Rahafar, Arash·2017·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/srep39976PMC PMC5206670
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Abstract

Morningness-eveningness (M/E) is an individual trait related to a person’s sleep-wake cycle and preference for morning or evening hours. The “environment hypothesis” suggests that M/E is dependent on environmental factors, such as latitude, mean average temperature and photoperiod. We here analyzed a large number of datasets to assess this effect based on a systematic review. Data were from a total of 87 datasets and 35,589 individuals based on 28 countries. Partial correlations correcting for age revealed significant relationships between M/E and latitude, mean yearly temperature, photoperiod and sunset. Evening orientation was related to higher latitude, longer days and later sunset. Morning orientation was related to higher average temperatures. Percentage of females and sunrise time had no significant influence. These variables (sunset, temperature, photoperiod) were then input in a general linear model. The full model showed an influence of age and of sunset on CSM scores, but not of photoperiod and average temperature. Sunset, therefore, seems to be the most important statistical predictor for the observed latitudinal gradient.

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  • Previous studies in humans found a correlation between latitude and chronotype variation.

    “Previous studies in humans found a correlation between latitude and chronotype (morningness vs. eveningness) variation (Leocadio-Miguel et al. 2017; Randler and Rahafar 2017; Lowden et al. 2018)”

    From Archaic Introgression Shaped Human Circadian Traits (2023) · cites this paper as Randler and Rahafar 2017

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Research works printed but not linked: 17

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Cited by

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Authors
Randler, C., & Rahafar, A.
Affiliations
University of Tübingen (DE)
Corresponding author
Randler, Christoph
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2017-01-03
Volume
7
Issue
1
Pages
39976-39976
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/srep39976
PMC
PMC5206670
OpenAlex
W2567701338
Cited by
73
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9
FWCI
0.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
chronotype, latitude, photoperiod, mean temperature, sunset time, sleep-wake cycle, circadian rhythm, latitudinal gradient, sex differences
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Sleep, Temperature, Linear Models, Databases, Factual, Photoperiod

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