The Relationship Between Chronotype and Academic Achievement Among Slovenian University Students: The Mediating Role of Trait Self-Control and Sleep Quality

Abstract

Several studies have identified a relationship between an individual’s chronotype and academic performance. Specifically, individuals with a morning preference often outperform those with an evening preference. Our research explored whether trait self-control and sleep quality mediate this association. We conducted an online survey completed by Slovenian university students. Chronotype, trait self-control, and sleep quality were measured using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the Brief Self-Control Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Additionally, the participants’ academic achievement was assessed using an objective measure (the average grade for the winter 2022/2023 exam period) and a subjective measure (students’ own assessment of their performance compared to their peers). The results show that all researched concepts are positively correlated. Additionally, mediation analyses revealed that trait self-control significantly mediated the relationship between chronotype and both measures of academic achievement. Conversely, while sleep quality did not mediate the relationship between chronotype and objective academic achievement, it did partially mediate the relationship between chronotype and the subjective achievement measure. These insights provide a novel comprehension of the intrinsic modalities that might link chronotype and academic performance.