Chronotypes and Health
Conditions
Brief summary
Previous studies have examined whether circadian rhythm tracking improves well-being, with some evidence suggesting that aligning daily activities with one's natural chronotype (a person's natural preference for being alert and sleep), enhances well-being and productivity. However, the current research lacks intervention-based designs like real-time tracking or behavioral alignment tools. Here, the investigators aim to investigate if an active intervention, involving the usage of an app tracking circadian rhythms and making recommendations based on one's circadian rhythm over seven weeks, improves students' flourishing.
Detailed description
The aim of this clinical study is to test the effectiveness of an intervention (through an app called Owaves: MyBodyClock that will be provided free of cost) designed to help students align daily activities in accordance with their circadian rhythm. The questions include: 1. Does the intervention improve both trait and state measures of student flourishing, including general well-being (i.e., happiness), focus, and energy levels? 2. Does the intervention alter the types of activities participants engage in? 3. Does the intervention impact the likelihood of seeking resources for physical and mental health?
Interventions
BEHAVIORALUse of Owaves App
Students use the Owaves app for 7 weeks and psychological measures are obatined pre and post to determine the effectiveness of the App
Sponsors
University of California, San Diego
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Currently an undergraduate students from University of California, San Diego (UCSD) * Age 18 or older * has access to a device to answer Qualtrics questions * has access to a device that can download the MyBodyClock App (Apple iPhone or Apple iPad)
Exclusion criteria
\- Participants who are under the age of 18, are not undergraduate students at UCSD, or do not have access to the Qualtrics question platform and/or the MyBodyClock App
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Trait Happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale) | Baseline (Weeks 1/2) and Weeks 8/9. | Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) Trait questionnaire. The SHS is a 4-item scale of global subjective happiness. It is scored on a 7-point Likert scale where 1 = less happy to 7 = more happy. Total scores range from 4 to 28 where higher scores indicate greater subjective happiness. |
| Focus Trait (Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale (Inattention Subscale) and Academic Time Management and Procrastination Measure) | Baseline (Weeks 1/2) and Weeks 8/9. | The Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale is a self-report questionnaire with 18-items which rates the frequency of ADHD symptoms and behaviors. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale ranging from 1 = never or rarely, to 4 = very often. A lower score indicates less severe ADHD symptoms and behaviors. |
| Energy Trait (Subjective Vitality Scale) | Baseline (Weeks 1/2) and Weeks 8/9. | Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) is a 6 - item self-report questionnaire to measure the subjective vitality of a participant. It is scored on a 7-point Likert scale where 1 = completely disagree to 7 = completely agree. Higher scores indicates higher level of subjective vitality. |
| Mindfulness Trait (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)) | Baseline (Weeks 1/2) and Weeks 8/9. | The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) short form is a 24-item questionnaire that measures mindfulness in participants. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 = never/very rarely true to 5 = very often/always true. Higher scores indicate greater levels of mindfulness. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| States | 7 weeks | State measures will be obtained within three days of the trait assessments (also in weeks 1/2 and 8/9) using the Daily Reconstruction Method (DRM), in which participants are asked to reconstruct their previous day into episodes and retrospectively report on state variables during each episode (see Raynes \& Dobkins, 2025). The state measures will match the trait measures and ask about: * Happiness (State) * Focus (State) * Energy (State) * Mindfulness (State) |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTKaren Dobkins, PhD
Outcome results
None listed