Study Reveals 5 a.m. as the Worst Time of Day for Mood, According to PLOS Digital Health Journal

Scientists Discover the Mood Tendency at 5 a.m.

Based on a recent study published in the “PLOS Digital Health Journal,” researchers from the University of Michigan and Dartmouth Health have identified the darkest hour of the day. The study reveals that 5 a.m. is the official worst time of day, influencing mood, circadian clock, and other factors.

Deconstructing the Study

The researchers analyzed data from 2,602 medical interns over a two-year period. They gathered information from wearable health tracking devices, such as Fitbits, measuring continuous heart rate, step count, sleep data, and daily mood scores.

Simultaneously, the interns’ heart rates and motion were measured to estimate circadian time as well as time awake. The data aimed to study mood variations relative to waking time.

The Rhythm of Mood

Lead author of the study, Benjamin Shapiro, a psychiatrist at Dartmouth Health, explains the findings, “Mood naturally cycles with the lowest point in the morning and the highest in the evening, independent of sleep deprivation.”

Senior author Danny Forger, a mathematics professor at the U-M Medical School, further elaborates, “We discovered that mood follows a rhythm connected to the body’s internal clock, and the clock’s influence increases as someone stays awake longer.”

Impact and Significance

Despite the small sample size and artificial laboratory setting, the study presents valuable insights into mood variation and the effective use of wearable technology in a clinical setting. The observed trends highlight opportunities to understand mental health issues through the analysis of digital tools like Fitbit.

Forger emphasizes the importance saying, “Introducing wearable technology as an exciting new way to explore these factors in mental health issues.”

Daylight Savings and Mood

The study does not specifically address how the recent Daylight Savings Time change affects these psychological peaks and valleys. Further research may explore the potential impact of time shifts on mood patterns.

Limitations and Factors

While the study offers valuable insights, it acknowledges that mental health intricacies rely on complex factors such as social dynamics, schedules, and temperaments, which weren’t fully captured. Outliers who stayed awake for more than 18 hours during the day also existed among the participants.