The Relationship between Chronotype and Physical Quality of Life in College Students: The Mediating Effect of Fatigue and Academic Burnout

Abstract

Background: Late chronotype is known to be related with decreased overall health of college students. Yet, the factors that mediate the relationship between chronotype and physical quality of life (QOL) are relatively less studied. Methods: College students (N=566, mean age=21.3, 56.4% male) completed Composite Scale for Mornings (CSM), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ), Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF). PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to examine the mediating effects. Covariates included sex, living status, financial difficulty, academic stress, anxiety and depression. Results: The direct effect of chronotype on physical QOL was not significant (c’=0.010, p=.341). The indirect effects of chronotype on physical QOL through fatigue (a 1 b 1 =0.013, 95%CI 0.004 ∼ 0.023) and academic burnout (a 2 b 2 =0.005, 95%CI 0.001 ∼ 0.012) were significant. The serial mediating effect of fatigue and academic burnout between chronotype and physical QOL was significant (a 1 d 21 b 2 =0.001, 95%CI 0.000 ∼ 0.003). Conclusions: Late chronotype appears to be vulnerable to decreased physical QOL through its relation with increased fatigue and academic burnout. This warrants its intervention. Words: