People perceive time differently: some make long-term plans, some live in the present, and others dwell on the past. Daily rhythms vary as well — some wake up early, while others are more active at night. A new study by researchers at the University of Warsaw has shown that these two traits can work together and influence mood. The findings were published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences (PID).
It was previously known that both time perception and chronotype (preferred sleep–wake timing) are associated with depressive symptoms. Professor Konrad Jankowski was the first to examine whether one of these characteristics — for example, a future-oriented mindset — can influence chronotype and, through it, mood.
“We knew that each factor on its own is related to depression. I wanted to understand whether there is a connecting link between them,” the researcher explained.
A total of 343 adults aged 18 to 63, mostly women, took part in an online survey. Participants completed three assessments: one on time perception, one on chronotype, and one on depressive symptoms.
The study confirmed that depressive symptoms were more common among people with a negative view of the past, a sense of lacking control over the present, and a weak orientation toward the future. Those with a more balanced time perspective reported better mood. “Night owls” also showed higher levels of depression. They were less likely to have a positive attitude toward the past, less likely to plan for the future, and more often demonstrated an “unbalanced” time profile.
The main finding of the study is that chronotype partly explains the relationship between time perspective and depressive symptoms. People with a more positive outlook on the past and a stronger orientation toward the future were more likely to be “morning types,” and this chronotype is associated with a lower risk of depression.
“People who look to the future with hope or recall the past warmly tend to go to bed and wake up earlier — and feel better overall,” said Jankowski.
The results also suggest a potential path for prevention: psychological work on one’s attitudes toward the past and future may help encourage healthier daily rhythms and reduce depressive tendencies.
“The next step is to determine which specific sleep habits play the biggest role: bedtime regularity, gadget use, or relaxing rituals,” Jankowski noted.
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