The self-morningness/eveningness (Self-ME): an extremely concise and totally subjective assessment of diurnal preference
Abstract
The assessment of diurnal preference, or the preferred timing of sleep and activity, is generally based on comprehensive questionnaires such as the Horne-Östberg (HÖ). The aim of the present study was to assess the reliability of a subject's self-classification as extremely morning (Self-MM), more morning than evening (Self-M), more evening than morning (Self-E) or extremely evening (Self-EE) type, based on the last question of the HÖ (Self-ME). A convenience sample of 461 subjects [23.8 ± 4.7 years; 322 females] completed a full sleep-wake assessment, including diurnal preference (HÖ), night sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), daytime sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, KSS), and habitual sleep-wake timing (12 d sleep diaries; n = 296). Significant differences in HÖ total score were observed between Self-ME classes, with each class being significantly different from neighboring classes (p < 0.0001). Significant differences in sleep-wake timing (bed time, try to sleep and sleep onset, wake up, and get up time) were observed between Self-ME classes. Such differences were maintained when sleep-wake habits were analysed separately on work and free days, and also in a smaller group of 67 subjects who completed the Self-ME as a stand-alone rather than as part of the original questionnaire. Significant differences were observed in the time-course of subjective sleepiness by Self-ME class in both the large and the small group, with Self-MM and Self-M subjects being significantly more alert in the morning and sleepier in the evening hours compared with their Self-E and Self-EE counterparts. Finally, significant differences were observed in night sleep quality between Self-ME classes, with Self-EE/Self-E subjects sleeping worse than their Self-MM/Self-M counterparts, and averaging just over the abnormality PSQI threshold of 5. In conclusion, young, healthy adults can define their diurnal preference based on a single question (Self-ME) in a way that reflects their sleep-wake timing, their sleepiness levels over the daytime hours, and their night sleep quality. Validation of the Self-ME across the decades and in diseased populations seems worthy.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Other variations of the MEQ have been proposed but remain to be validated in large-scale studies.
“Other variations of the MEQ have been proposed but remain to be validated in large-scale studies (35).”
From Chronotype: Implications for Epidemiologic Studies on Chrono-Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
Self-reported chronotype has been validated with self-reported sleep-wake times.
“Self-reported chronotype has been validated with self-reported sleep-wake times [46].”
From Smoking, screen-based sedentary behavior, and diet associated with habitual sleep duration and chronotype: data from the UK Biobank (2016) · cites this paper as [46]
Cites
A self-assessment questionnaire to determine morningness- eveningness in human circadian rhythms
Home, J. K. (1976) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,783 · see citing works
Subjective and objective sleepiness in the active individual
Åkerstedt, T., & Gillberg, M. (1990) · International Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.3109/00207459008994241 · Cited by 3,088 · see citing works
Life between Clocks: Daily Temporal Patterns of Human Chronotypes
Roenneberg, T., Wirz-Justice, A., & Merrow, M. (2003) · Journal of Biological Rhythms · doi:10.1177/0748730402239679 · Cited by 2,662 · see citing works
Davis, D. A., Mazmanian, P. E., Fordis, M., Van Harrison, R., Thorpe, K. E., & Perrier, L. (2006) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.296.9.1094 · Cited by 2,375 · see citing works
Cappuccio, F. P., Cooper, D., D'Elia, L., Strazzullo, P., & Miller, M. A. (2011) · European Heart Journal · doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr007 · Cited by 2,146 · see citing works
A marker for the end of adolescence
Roenneberg, T., Kuehnle, T., Pramstaller, P. P., Ricken, J., Havel, M., Guth, A., & Merrow, M. (2004) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2004.11.039 · Cited by 1,585 · see citing works
Roenneberg, T., Allebrandt, K. V., Merrow, M., & Vetter, C. (2012) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.03.038 · Cited by 1,407 · see citing works
Horne & Östberg morningness-eveningness questionnaire: A reduced scale
Adán, A., & Almirall, H. (1991) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/0191-8869(91)90110-w · Cited by 843 · see citing works
Buxton, O. M., & Marcelli, E. (2010) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.041 · Cited by 818 · see citing works
Archer, S. N., Robilliard, D. L., Skene, D. J., Smits, M. G., Williams, A., Arendt, J., & von Schantz, M. (2003) · SLEEP · doi:10.1093/sleep/26.4.413 · Cited by 734 · see citing works
Validity of the Italian Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Curcio, G., Tempesta, D., Scarlata, S., Marzano, C., Moroni, F., Rossini, P. M., Ferrara, M., & Gennaro, L. D. (2012) · Neurological Sciences · doi:10.1007/s10072-012-1085-y · Cited by 604 · see citing works
Inter-individual differences in the human circadian system: A review
KERKHOF, G. A. (1985) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/0301-0511(85)90019-5 · Cited by 536 · see citing works
Duffy, J. F., Dijk, D., Hall, E. F., & Czeisler, C. A. (1999) · Journal of Investigative Medicine · doi:10.1177/108155899904700310 · Cited by 431 · see citing works
Italian version of the Epworth sleepiness scale: external validity
Vignatelli, L., Plazzi, G., Barbato, A., Ferini‐Strambi, L., Manni, R., Pompei, F., & D’Alessandro, R. (2003) · Neurological Sciences · doi:10.1007/s100720300004 · Cited by 370 · see citing works
The Human Circadian Clock's Seasonal Adjustment Is Disrupted by Daylight Saving Time
Kantermann, T., Juda, M., Merrow, M. W., & Roenneberg, T. (2007) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.10.025 · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Morningness-Eveningness, Chronotypes and Health-Impairing Behaviors in Adolescents
Urbán, R., Magyaródi, T., & Rigó, A. (2011) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.3109/07420528.2010.549599 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Shifts to and from Daylight Saving Time and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction
Janszky, I., & Ljung, R. (2008) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmc0807104 · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Roenneberg, T. (2013) · Nature · doi:10.1038/498427a · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Lázár, A. S., Slak, A., Lo, J. C.-Y., Santhi, N., von Schantz, M., Archer, S. N., Groeger, J. A., & Dijk, D. (2012) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.3109/07420528.2011.641193 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Hida, A., Kitamura, S., Katayose, Y., Kato, M., Ono, H., Kadotani, H., Uchiyama, M., Ebisawa, T., Inoue, Y., Kamei, Y., et al. (2014) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep06309 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Psychometric properties of the reduced Horne and Ostberg questionnaire
Chelminski, I., Petros, T. V., Plaud, J. J., & Ferraro, F. R. (2000) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/s0191-8869(99)00208-1 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Liu, X., Uchiyama, M., Shibui, K., Kim, K., Kudo, Y., Tagaya, H., Suzuki, H., & Okawa, M. (2000) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(00)00793-x · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Lavie, P., & Segal, S. (1989) · SLEEP · doi:10.1093/sleep/12.6.522 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
The Influence of Environmental Factors on Sleep Quality in Hospitalized Medical Patients
Bano, M., Chiaromanni, F., Corrias, M., Turco, M., Rui, M. D., Amodio, P., Merkel, C., Gatta, A., Mazzotta, G. M., Costa, R., et al. (2014) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2014.00267 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
Kim, M. J., Lee, J. H., & Duffy, J. F. (2010) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.3109/9781841847634-11 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
“Early to bed, early to rise”: Diffusion tensor imaging identifies chronotype-specificity
Rosenberg, J., Maximov, I. I., Reske, M., Grinberg, F., & Shah, N. J. (2013) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.07.086 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Polish version of the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire
Jankowski, K. S. (2012) · Biological Rhythm Research · doi:10.1080/09291016.2012.704791 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Fitzpatrick, R. M., Norquist, J. M., Jenkinson, C., Reeves, B. C., Morris, R. W., Murray, D., & GREGG, P. J. (2004) · Quality of Life Research · doi:10.1023/b:qure.0000018489.25151.e1 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Sleep–wake patterns in patients with cirrhosis: All you need to know on a single sheet
Montagnese, S., Middleton, B., Skene, D. J., & Morgan, M. Y. (2009) · Journal of Hepatology · doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2009.06.006 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Can people accurately estimate their own personality test scores?
Furnham, A. F. (1990) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.2410040405 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
The Effects of Gender and Self-Insight on Early Semantic Processing
Xu, X., Kang, C., & Guo, T.-M. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114421 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Chronotype: Implications for Epidemiologic Studies on Chrono-Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health
Almoosawi, S., Vingeliene, S., Gachon, F., Voortman, T., Palla, L., Johnston, J. D., Van Dam, R. M., Darimont, C., & Karagounis, L. G. (2019) · Advances in Nutrition · doi:10.1093/advances/nmy070 · Cited by 247 · see citing works
From Lark to Owl: developmental changes in morningness-eveningness from new-borns to early adulthood
Randler, C., Faßl, C., & Kalb, N. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep45874 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Randler, C., Díaz‐Morales, J. F., Rahafar, A., & Vollmer, C. (2016) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.3109/07420528.2016.1171233 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Patterson, F., Malone, S. K., Lozano, A., Grandner, M. A., & Hanlon, A. L. (2016) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12160-016-9797-5 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Merikanto, I., Kortesoja, L., Benedict, C., Chung, F., Cedernaes, J., Espie, C., Morin, C., Dauvilliers, Y., Partinen, M., de Gennaro, L., et al. (2021) · Sleep · doi:10.1093/sleep/zsab216 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Nurses and Night Shifts: Poor Sleep Quality Exacerbates Psychomotor Performance
Muzio, M. D., Diella, G., Simone, E. D., Novelli, L., Alfonsi, V., Scarpelli, S., Annarumma, L., Salfi, F., Pazzaglia, M., Giannini, A. M., et al. (2020) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.579938 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Muzio, M. D., Diella, G., Simone, E. D., Pazzaglia, M., Alfonsi, V., Novelli, L., Cianciulli, A., Scarpelli, S., Gorgoni, M., Giannini, A. M., et al. (2021) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29906 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Electronic Screen Use and Sleep Duration and Timing in Adults
Zhong, C., Masters, M., Donzella, S. M., Diver, W. R., & Patel, A. V. (2025) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.2493 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Muzio, M. D., Reda, F., Diella, G., Simone, E. D., Novelli, L., D’Atri, A., Giannini, A. M., & Gennaro, L. D. (2019) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm8010047 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Single-Item Chronotyping (SIC), a method to self-assess diurnal types by using 6 simple charts
Putilov, A. A., Sveshnikov, D. S., Puchkova, A. N., Дорохов, В. Б., Bakaeva, Z. V., Yakunina, E. B., Starshinov, Y. P., Torshin, V. I., Alipov, N. N., Sergeeva, O. V., et al. (2020) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2020.110353 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Panjeh, S., Pompéia, S., Archer, S. N., Pedrazzoli, M., von Schantz, M., & Cogo‐Moreira, H. (2020) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.1080/07420528.2020.1815758 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Formentin, C., Carraro, S., Turco, M., Zarantonello, L., Angeli, P., & Montagnese, S. (2020) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00005 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Chronotype in relation to shift work: A cohort study among 37,731 female nurses
de Bruijn, L., Berentzen, N. E., Vermeulen, R. C. H., Vlaanderen, J. J., Kromhout, H., van Leeuwen, F. E., & Schaapveld, M. (2024) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.14308 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Lok, R., Weed, L., Winer, J. R., & Zeitzer, J. M. (2024) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115956 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Chronotype in children and adolescents
Randler, C. (2016) · Somnologie - Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin · doi:10.1007/s11818-016-0073-5 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Orsini, F., Giusti, G., Zarantonello, L., Costa, R., Montagnese, S., & Rossi, R. (2023) · Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour · doi:10.1016/j.trf.2023.10.014 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Driving simulator performance worsens after the Spring transition to Daylight Saving Time
Orsini, F., Zarantonello, L., Costa, R., Rossi, R., & Montagnese, S. (2022) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.104666 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Li, J. Y., Chen, X., Jiang, X., Zheng, Q., Pan, Y., Zhu, Y., Huang, L., & Liu, R. (2023) · Journal of Nursing Management · doi:10.1155/2023/1811732 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Morningness–eveningness and sleep habits at school: a comparative study between Mexico and Spain
Arrona‐Palacios, A., & Díaz‐Morales, J. F. (2016) · Biological Rhythm Research · doi:10.1080/09291016.2016.1245459 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Millar, B. M., Rendina, H. J., Starks, T. J., Grov, C., & Parsons, J. T. (2018) · Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity · doi:10.1037/sgd0000311 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
de Bruijn, L., Starreveld, D. E. J., Schaapveld, M., van Leeuwen, F. E., Bleiker, E. M. A., & Berentzen, N. E. (2022) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.13577 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Garrido, M., Skoručak, J., Raduazzo, D. I., Turco, M., Spinelli, G., Angeli, P., Amodio, P., Achermann, P., & Montagnese, S. (2016) · Metabolic Brain Disease · doi:10.1007/s11011-016-9835-9 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Work Habit-Related Sleep Debt; Insights From Factor Identification Analysis of Actigraphy Data
Goto, Y., Fujiwara, K., Sumi, Y., Matsuo, M., Kano, M., & Kadotani, H. (2021) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.630640 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Reesor-Oyer, L. M., Parker, H., Burkart, S. A., Smith, M. T., Dugger, R., von Klinggraeff, L., Weaver, R. G., Beets, M. W., & Armstrong, B. (2022) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/36240 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Montagnese, S., Zarantonello, L., Formentin, C., Giusti, G., Mangini, C., Isherwood, C., Ferrari, P., Paoli, A., Mapelli, D., Rizzuto, R., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.848602 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Circadian Modulation of the Antioxidant Effect of Grape Consumption: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Blanton, C. A., Ghimire, B., Khajehpour, S., & Aghazadeh‐Habashi, A. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20156502 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Cook, J. D., Peppard, P. E., Blair, E. E., Tran, K. M., Hertting, M. C., & Plante, D. T. (2021) · Sleep Health · doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2021.08.004 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Association of Chronotype and Shiftwork With COVID-19 Infection
Quan, S. F., Weaver, M. D., Czeisler, M. É., Barger, L. K., Booker, L. A., Howard, M. E., Jackson, M. L., Lane, R. I., McDonald, C. F., Ridgers, A., et al. (2024) · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000003103 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Giusti, G., Domenie, E. D., Zarantonello, L., Mangini, C., Ferrari, P., Costa, R., & Montagnese, S. (2024) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.14194 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Toward a Classification of Chronotype Questionnaires
Putilov, A. A. (2026) · Nature and Science of Sleep · doi:10.2147/nss.s602542 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Ramírez, C., García, A., Santos, I., Borrani, J., & Valdéz, P. (2022) · Chronobiology International · doi:10.1080/07420528.2022.2049809 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Validation of the SIC (Single Item Chronotyping) against 11 scales of three questionnaires
Putilov, A. A., Sveshnikov, D. S., Bakaeva, Z. V., Yakunina, E. B., Mankaeva, O. V., Torshin, V. I., Trutneva, E. A., Lapkin, M. M., Lopatskaya, Z. N., Олегович, Б. Р., et al. (2026) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2026.113913 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Pernoud, L., Noll, J. L., Gardiner, P. A., Dean, M. M., Broadhouse, K. M., Walker, M. A., Wright, H., Villani, A. M., Scott, J. R., Metse, A. P., et al. (2026) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106377 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Ebara, F., Domichi, M., Suganuma, A., & Sakane, N. (2021) · Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.14740/jem720
From Lockdowns to Long COVID—Unraveling the Link Between Sleep, Chronotype, and Long COVID Symptoms
Tsaava, M., Basishvili, T., Sakhelashvili, I., Eliozishvili, M., Oniani, N., Lortkipanidze, N., Tarielashvili, M., Khoshtaria, L., & Darchia, N. (2025) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci15080800 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Lai, T., Park, J.-H., Hung, Y.-C., Shin, M., Song, S., Huh, U., Choi, H., Lee, J.-I., & Liao, Y. (2026) · European Journal of Preventive Cardiology · doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag209
A Journey Through Chronotype Changes in University Students
Domenie, E. D., Erminelli, D., Giusti, G., Mangini, C., Zarantonello, L., Costa, R., & Montagnese, S. (2026) · Journal of Biological Rhythms · doi:10.1177/07487304261445541
Sleep and Mental Health Among Employed Adults in Beijing, China
Czeisler, M. É., Weaver, M. D., Xin, Q., Quan, S. F., & Czeisler, C. A. (2026) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.70296
Metzler, Y. A., Schade, H., Nitsche, M. A., Wascher, E., Getzmann, S., Gajewski, P. D., & Melo, L. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54301-w
Love, J. J., Cook, J. D., Hagen, E. W., Rasmunon, A., Ravelo, L. A., Palta, M., Peppard, P. E., & Plante, D. T. (2026) · Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine · doi:10.1007/s44470-026-00133-4
- Authors
- Turco, M., Corrias, M., Chiaromanni, F., Bano, M., Salamanca, M., Caccin, L., Merkel, C., Amodio, P., Romualdi, C., De Pittà, C., Costa, R., & Montagnese, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Padua (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Montagnese, S.
- Venue
- Chronobiology International
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-10-09
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1192-1200
- ISSN
- 0742-0528 (ISSN-L)
- 1525-6073
- OpenAlex
- W2272139735
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5
- FWCI
- 4.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chronobiology International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- diurnal preference, chronotype, sleep timing, daytime sleepiness, subjective sleepiness
- MeSH terms
- Activity Cycles, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Female, Habits, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self-Assessment, Sleep, Time Factors, Wakefulness, Reproducibility of Results, Young Adult, Circadian Clocks, Healthy Volunteers
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
