Validity of chronotype questionnaires in adolescents: Correlations with actigraphy

Abstract

There are only a few validated chronotype and morningness–eveningness questionnaires for adolescents. We evaluated three such questionnaires, namely Morningness–Eveningness Stability Scale improved; reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents; and Composite Scale of Morningness in adolescents against actigraphy. Fifty-five healthy 13- to 16-year-old adolescents completed the Morningness–Eveningness Stability Scale improved, reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents, Composite Scale of Morningness, and Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, and provided a 7-day actigraphy and sleep diary recording about their sleep–wake patterns. We examined the correlations between sleep–wake and activity parameters, and the questionnaires. The influence of age and sex on chronotype classification was studied using uni- and multivariate analyses. All three chronotype questionnaires showed good internal consistency and convergent validity. Spearman correlations reflected less daytime sleepiness, earlier sleep times, midpoints of sleep, and acrophase in morning-oriented participants. Evening-oriented participants had more sleepiness and later respective sleep–wake times. Chronotype classification differed significantly between questionnaires. The Composite Scale of Morningness classified more participants as morning types when compared with the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (12 versus 7, respectively), and fewer adolescents as evening types (5 versus 9, respectively). Age and sex had no significant influence on questionnaire scores. The Morningness–Eveningness Stability Scale improved, reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents, and Composite Scale of Morningness are valid instruments to determine circadian preference in adolescents; however, chronotype classification from the Composite Scale of Morningness and reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents cannot be used interchangeably.