This common habit could seriously harm your mental health, according to sleep experts

Staying up late isn’t inherently problematic. But when it becomes a habit, especially when paired with other unhealthy behaviors, it can significantly impact your mental health. Here’s what happens to night owls.

Depression is a multifactorial condition. A mix of biological, psychological, and environmental factors contribute to its development, including genetic predispositions and neurotransmitter imbalances. What’s less often talked about is how lack of sleep and alcohol consumption can also be significant risk factors for depression, according to a recent study published in PLOS One.

Depression Rates Soaring Among Young People

A person’s chronotype—which refers to their sleep-wake habits—affects their biological clock, the internal processes that regulate bodily functions. Researchers demonstrated this after analyzing the responses of over 500 students about their sleep habits, alcohol intake, mindfulness practices, and mental state.

The study revealed that young people who go to bed late and wake up late (evening-type or night owls) have a higher risk of depression compared to early risers (morning-type). “More than 50% of young adults are now night owls, and we’re seeing a record high in depression rates within this group,” says Simon Evans, a neuroscience researcher and lead author of the study.

His team aimed to explore how sleep habits directly affect mental health.

Lack of Sleep, Alcohol… A Lifestyle to Rethink

The link between a late chronotype and increased depression risk stems from the unhealthy habits common among people who stay up late and wake up late. These individuals often suffer from poor-quality sleep, drink more alcohol, and are less likely to engage in mindfulness practices compared to morning types. All of these factors contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. “Our study emphasizes the need to promote the importance of mindfulness meditation, quality sleep, and moderate alcohol consumption, especially for young people’s mental health,” says Simon Evans.

It’s important to note that depression in youth can have lasting consequences that affect adulthood. This underscores the need to raise awareness early about the risk factors for depression.

Evans and his team are now working on exploring how screen exposure and the use of new technologies affect young adults’ sleep and mental health.