An online survey analysis on the association between social jetlag and depressive symptoms among college students
10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20250222-00083
- VernacularTitle:大学生社会时差时间与抑郁症状关系的线上调查分析
- Author:
Hongyu CHEN
1
;
Baixin CHEN
;
Jiachun HUANG
;
Jingyi HE
;
Peicong LI
;
Lu ZHANG
;
Wenrong CHEN
;
Weichen ZHANG
;
Yun LI
Author Information
1. 汕头大学医学院 汕头大学精神卫生中心睡眠医学科 汕头大学医学院-曼尼托巴大学医学院生物精神病学联合实验室，汕头515065
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Depressive disorder;
Social jetlag;
Depression;
College Students;
Sports
- From:
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry
2025;58(8):639-645
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the association between social jetlag and depressive symptoms among college students, as well as its potential influencing factors.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire platform (Wenjuanxing) from March to April 2023, collecting data on social jetlag, depressive symptoms, and other factors from students at Shantou University. Social jetlag time was defined as the absolute difference between the midpoint of sleep time on weekends and weekdays, with a cutoff at the 75th percentile. The presence of social jetlag was defined as social jetlag time≥1 hour. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), with a score of≥10 indicating the presence of depressive symptoms. Participants were divided into depressive symptom group (BDI≥10) and non-depressive symptom group (BDI<10). Linear regression and logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between social jetlag and depressive symptoms, with interaction terms and subgroup analyses to explore potential influencing factors.Results:A total of 1 323 college students were included. The social jetlag time (median 0.71 hour vs. 0.50 hour, Z=-3.36, P<0.001) and prevalence of social jetlag (37.64% vs. 30.57%, χ2=7.03, P=0.008) were both higher in the depressive symptom group than in the non-depressive symptom group. The linear regression model showed that each additional hour of social jetlag was associated with an increase of 0.67 points in BDI score (95% CI=0.16-1.18, β=0.06, P=0.010), after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, being a medical student, smoking, drinking, caffeine intake, physical exercise, anxiety symptoms, insomnia symptoms, and sleep duration. The logistic regression model indicated that social jetlag was a risk factor for depressive symptoms (O R=1.34, 95% CI=1.02-1.76, P=0.036), which was moderated by physical exercise (interaction P=0.033). Among participants without physical exercise, social jetlag was associated with depressive symptoms ( OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.18-2.48, P=0.005), while no such association was found among those with physical exercise ( OR=0.97, 95% CI=0.64-1.47, P=0.892). Conclusion:Social jetlag may be associated with depressive symptoms in college students. This adverse relationship may be improved by enhancing physical exercise.
