The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners

Abstract Background This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronotypes among male prisoners in China and to examine the relationship between chronotype, insomnia, and depressive symptoms in this population. Methods A total of 1609 male inmates participated in this cross-sectional study by co...

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Main Authors: Jin He, Shuqi Zhang, Qingzhen Yang, Daoli Liu, Weixia Xiao, Mufan Zheng, Hengfen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06942-w
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author Jin He
Shuqi Zhang
Qingzhen Yang
Daoli Liu
Weixia Xiao
Mufan Zheng
Hengfen Li
author_facet Jin He
Shuqi Zhang
Qingzhen Yang
Daoli Liu
Weixia Xiao
Mufan Zheng
Hengfen Li
author_sort Jin He
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronotypes among male prisoners in China and to examine the relationship between chronotype, insomnia, and depressive symptoms in this population. Methods A total of 1609 male inmates participated in this cross-sectional study by completing the Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5 (MEQ-5), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Age, time served, insomnia, and depressive symptoms were compared across chronotypes. Binary logistic stepwise regression was used to analyze factors influencing depression. Additionally, a simple mediation model incorporating MEQ-5, ISI, and PHQ-9 was analyzed, with age controlled as a covariate. Results The prevalence of morning type (MT), neutral type (NT), and evening type (ET) was 47.2%, 46.7%, and 6.1%, respectively. Being an ET was significantly associated with younger age and increased symptoms of insomnia and depression (P < 0.05). The relative risk of depression was 2.970-fold higher (95% CI, 1.724 to 5.116; P < 0.001) for ET compared to MT. Mediation analysis revealed that insomnia partially mediated the relationship between chronotype and depression, while the direct effect of chronotype on depression was also significant (accounting for 50.51% of the total effect). Conclusions The prevalence of ET is relatively low among male prisoners. Resetting ET tendencies may reduce depressive symptoms in this population.
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spelling doaj-art-aa1cfd13d7744cd2898bda5eb47a7e242025-08-20T03:48:18ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-05-012511910.1186/s12888-025-06942-wThe relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisonersJin He0Shuqi Zhang1Qingzhen Yang2Daoli Liu3Weixia Xiao4Mufan Zheng5Hengfen Li6Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, the Mental Health Center of Hebei ProvinceHandan PrisonDepartment of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical CollegeDepartment of Psychology, Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityAbstract Background This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronotypes among male prisoners in China and to examine the relationship between chronotype, insomnia, and depressive symptoms in this population. Methods A total of 1609 male inmates participated in this cross-sectional study by completing the Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5 (MEQ-5), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Age, time served, insomnia, and depressive symptoms were compared across chronotypes. Binary logistic stepwise regression was used to analyze factors influencing depression. Additionally, a simple mediation model incorporating MEQ-5, ISI, and PHQ-9 was analyzed, with age controlled as a covariate. Results The prevalence of morning type (MT), neutral type (NT), and evening type (ET) was 47.2%, 46.7%, and 6.1%, respectively. Being an ET was significantly associated with younger age and increased symptoms of insomnia and depression (P < 0.05). The relative risk of depression was 2.970-fold higher (95% CI, 1.724 to 5.116; P < 0.001) for ET compared to MT. Mediation analysis revealed that insomnia partially mediated the relationship between chronotype and depression, while the direct effect of chronotype on depression was also significant (accounting for 50.51% of the total effect). Conclusions The prevalence of ET is relatively low among male prisoners. Resetting ET tendencies may reduce depressive symptoms in this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06942-wChronotypeInsomniaDepressive symptomsPrisonerMediating effect
spellingShingle Jin He
Shuqi Zhang
Qingzhen Yang
Daoli Liu
Weixia Xiao
Mufan Zheng
Hengfen Li
The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners
BMC Psychiatry
Chronotype
Insomnia
Depressive symptoms
Prisoner
Mediating effect
title The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners
title_full The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners
title_fullStr The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners
title_short The relationship between chronotype, insomnia and depressive symptoms in Chinese male prisoners
title_sort relationship between chronotype insomnia and depressive symptoms in chinese male prisoners
topic Chronotype
Insomnia
Depressive symptoms
Prisoner
Mediating effect
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06942-w
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