Study Links 'Night Owl' Chronotype to Poorer Work-Life Balance and Mental Health Issues
A new study published in *Sleep Health* indicates that individuals with an 'evening chronotype,' commonly known as 'night owls,' are more prone to experiencing work-life balance difficulties and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Researchers analyzed data from 2,266 working adults aged 20-65 from the Healthy Finland Study, categorizing them into four groups based on their circadian type. The findings revealed that definite evening types reported higher instances of mental health symptoms and issues with work-life balance. Lead study author Ilona Merikanto, Ph.D., from the University of Helsinki, noted that these individuals also experienced poorer recovery from work and more negative spillover effects of work into their free time. The study suggests that work schedules may contribute significantly to these outcomes, rather than solely individual habits. Jamie M. Zeitzer, Ph.D., from Stanford University, highlighted that insufficient sleep due to early work awakenings and 'social jet lag... 
