Associations among sleep-wake rhythm characteristics, time perspective and psycho-emotional state during COVID-19 isolation

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations among time perspective, sleep-wake rhythm characteristics, and psycho-emotional state during COVID-19 isolation. The study was carried out from April 17 to 14 June 2020and involved 844 people aged 17 to 26 years (average age: 19.4 ± 1.8 years, women: 79.4%). Each study participant filled out the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Inventory. There were significant changes in the sleep characteristics during isolation: sleep duration increased by 56 minutes, sleep efficiency decreased by 2.4%, sleep phase delayed by 53 minutes, while social jetlag decreased by 77 minutes. Individuals with balanced, future, and past positive time perspective had better sleep characteristics, and were less likely to exhibit symptoms of depression. Persons with past negative, present hedonistic and present fatalistic time perspective were more likely to have worse sleep characteristics, and exhibited signs of depression. The results of the study indicate that persons focused on long-term planning for their lives generally endured the COVID-19 isolation more easily.