Morningness-Eveningness and Social Adjustment

Abstract

According to earlier theory building, it is reasonable to assume that Evening types will display patterns of adjustment that are distinctly different from those of Morning types (e.g., Cofer et al., 1999). However, the empirical tests of this assumption have been conspicuous by their absence. Whenever individual adjustment has been investigated in relation to M-E, it has been done in studies focusing on single variables, indicating that being an Evening type is disadvantageous (e.g., Adan, 1994; Chelminski et al., 1999; Cortesi et al., 1997; Ishihara et al., 1985; Mecacci & Rocchetti, 1998). Nevertheless, it is well known that problem behaviors tend to cluster (e.g., Stattin Sc Magnusson, 1996), and such gravitation tendencies must be taken into account when assessing the magnitude of Eveningness as a risk factor in development. Hence, the present section will address the relation between M-E and different aspects of social adjustment, both as separate entities and as patterns of behavior. The general prediction is that Eveningness should be associated with negative adjustment, whereas Morningness should be related to a positive outcome.