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Interplay of chronotype and school timing predicts school performance

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea P. Goldin

    (CONICET, Laboratorio de Neurociencia)

  • Mariano Sigman

    (CONICET, Laboratorio de Neurociencia
    Universidad Nebrija)

  • Gisela Braier

    (CONICET, Laboratorio de Neurociencia)

  • Diego A. Golombek

    (CONICET, Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología)

  • María J. Leone

    (CONICET, Laboratorio de Neurociencia
    CONICET, Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología)

Abstract

Most adolescents exhibit very late chronotypes and attend school early in the morning, a misalignment that can affect their health and psychological well-being. Here we examine how the interaction between the chronotype and school timing of an individual influences academic performance, studying a unique sample of 753 Argentinian students who were randomly assigned to start school in the morning (07:45), afternoon (12:40) or evening (17:20). Although chronotypes tend to align partially with class time, this effect is insufficient to fully account for the differences with school start time. We show that (1) for morning-attending students, early chronotypes perform better than late chronotypes in all school subjects, an effect that is largest for maths; (2) this effect vanishes for students who attend school in the afternoon; and (3) late chronotypes benefit from evening classes. Together, these results demonstrate that academic performance is improved when school times are better aligned with the biological rhythms of adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea P. Goldin & Mariano Sigman & Gisela Braier & Diego A. Golombek & María J. Leone, 2020. "Interplay of chronotype and school timing predicts school performance," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 387-396, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:4:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1038_s41562-020-0820-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-0820-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Sandra Figueiredo & Rayane Vieira, 2022. "The Effect of Chronotype on Oppositional Behaviour and Psychomotor Agitation of School-Age Children: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Sing Chen Yeo & Clin K. Y. Lai & Jacinda Tan & Samantha Lim & Yuvan Chandramoghan & Teck Kiang Tan & Joshua J. Gooley, 2023. "Early morning university classes are associated with impaired sleep and academic performance," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 502-514, April.

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