A study from University College London (UCL) found that people's mental health and well-being are generally better in the morning and decline throughout the day, reaching their lowest point around midnight, Psychology Today reported.
The research, published in the journal BMJ Mental Health, analyzed nearly one million responses from about 50,000 participants over two years, making it the most comprehensive of its kind.
"Our findings suggest that, on average, people's mental health and well-being are better in the morning and worse at midnight," explained Dr. Feifei Bu. The study tracked fluctuations in participants' mental health, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, feelings of happiness, life satisfaction, and feelings of loneliness.
Participants answered questionnaires that included questions such as: "How happy did you feel in the last week?" and "How satisfied are you with your life?" IFLScience reported. The survey included information about the year, season, day, and hour the questionnaire was completed.
The researchers suggested that these patterns might be explained by physiological changes related to the body's circadian rhythms. "For example, cortisol peaks shortly after waking and reaches its lowest levels around bedtime," they stated, The Independent reported. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates mood, motivation, and anxiety, and could play a crucial role in the observed patterns.
The season of the year also influenced mood. The research found that mental health was highest in summer across all outcomes measured. During winter, participants reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, and lower levels of well-being and happiness compared to other seasons.
"The patterns seen in the times of day and mental health and well-being across time seem to stay consistent across the seasons," the researchers observed.
The study also found that the day of the week influenced mental health and happiness. According to The Independent, happiness, life satisfaction, and meaningfulness of life were highest on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, with the lowest levels occurring on Sundays. Participants generally felt happiest on Tuesdays.
Scientists noted that the mental health of most participants fluctuated during the weekends, while things became more stable during the week. The researchers pointed out that differences observed between weekdays and weekends may be related to factors such as routines and daily activities, which differ between weekends and weekdays.
Despite the findings, the researchers cautioned that more studies are needed to confirm the results. "While these findings are intriguing, they need to be replicated in other studies that fully account for this potential bias," said Dr. Bu. The study was observational and cannot establish causation.
The researchers acknowledged limitations in their study. IFLScience reported that the data consisted of self-reported information given by participants when they chose to fill in the questionnaires. "This pattern could reflect the time when people choose to respond to the survey, rather than a direct effect of the time of day," Dr. Bu explained. "For example, those who feel better in the morning may be more likely to engage in the survey at that time," she added.
Münchner Merkur reported that other factors like sleep patterns, geographical latitude, or weather were not considered in the study, which could have played a role. According to IFLScience, the researchers noted that participants of ethnic minority background were underrepresented in the sample (5.9 percent), and people educated to degree level or higher were overrepresented (68.1 percent).
Psychology Today noted that understanding these natural rhythms can help individuals structure their routines to maximize mental well-being and make the most of the morning's psychological advantages. The researchers suggested that mental health support services could consider adjusting resources to fit fluctuating needs throughout the day—for example, prioritizing availability late at night when mental health is generally worse.
Dr. Bu emphasized that while the data show a general trend, it does not necessarily apply to each individual. "What is true for the group as a whole is not always true for each person," she said.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.