Relationships between eveningness, bedtime procrastination, morning functioning, and skipping breakfast

Inter-relationships among eveningness, bedtime procrastination (BP), morning affect (MA), and breakfast skipping were investigated in 219 adults (aged 18-89, mean age = 26.2 years). Consistent with previous research, greater eveningness preference was associated with more BP, more breakfast skipping, and lower MA (i.e., less alert at awakening/requiring longer to fully awake). Two mediation models were tested: BP as a mediator between eveningness and MA, and MA as a mediator between eveningness and breakfast skipping. Results supported the first model, as more eveningness had an indirect effect through more BP to lower MA. The reversed model (BP mediating between MA as the predictor for eveningness) was also significant, indicating a bidirectional relationship. In contrast, MA did not mediate the relationship between eveningness and breakfast skipping, suggesting a more direct influence of time of day preference on eating behaviour. The reversed model (MA mediating between breakfast skipping as the predictor for eveningness) showed significance, but not after including covariates. These findings underscore the role of bedtime procrastination in undermining morning functioning, highlight a direct link between time of day preference and breakfast consumption, and suggest a bidirectional relationship between eveningness and MA. Longitudinal research may clarify causality and explore additional mediators.