Night Owls Face Higher Emotional Dysregulation and Bipolar Risk, Study Finds

New research has highlighted a strong link between being a 'night owl' and emotional dysregulation. The findings were presented at the European Congress of Psychiatry, held in Prague from 28 to 31 March 2026. Over 4,200 delegates from more than 105 countries attended the event to discuss the latest mental health studies. The study involved 2,031 Italian adults, with 22.8% identifying as evening chronotypes, 22.2% as morning types, and 55% as neutral. Researchers found that those with an evening preference scored significantly higher on measures of emotional dysregulation and affective temperaments linked to bipolar vulnerability.

Evening chronotypes also recorded higher scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32-R2). These results suggest a greater risk of subthreshold bipolar disorder in this group. Only evening chronotype and tobacco use remained strong predictors of these features in further analysis. The data further revealed that evening types experienced more depressive, anxious, irritable, and cyclothymic traits compared to morning or neutral types. Meanwhile, good sleep quality appeared to act as a protective factor, reducing vulnerability on both the MDQ and HCL-32-R2 scales. Around one in three adults in the UK and similar proportions across Europe identify as 'night owls'. This preference for later bedtimes has now been linked to broader emotional and psychological challenges.

The findings suggest that evening chronotype is associated with higher emotional dysregulation and bipolar vulnerability. Good sleep quality, however, may help mitigate these risks. The research adds to growing evidence that sleep patterns play a key role in mental health outcomes.