Dimensions of circadian functioning and depressive symptoms: The moderating and mediating role of general self-efficacy

The associations between circadian preferences and various aspects of mental health are widely reported in chronopsychological literature. The present study investigated the role of general self-efficacy in the associations between three dimensions of circadian functioning – Morning Affect (MA), Eveningness (EV), Distinctness (circadian amplitude; DI) – and depressive symptoms. A non-clinical sample of 2,869 participants (50.4% women; aged 20–60, M = 40.72, SD = 10.64) completed a multidimensional measure of circadian functioning (MESSi) and questionnaires assessing general self-efficacy (GSES) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). General self-efficacy was negatively predicted by DI and positively predicted by both MA and EV. Moderation analyses showed that general self-efficacy functioned as a buffer, weakening the relationship between low MA and depressive symptoms, as well as between high DI and depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses indicated that general self-efficacy partly explained the associations between each of the three circadian functioning dimensions and depressive symptoms. Three main conclusions emerge: (1) self-efficacy may buffer (moderate) the relationships between less adaptive circadian functioning and depressive symptoms, (2) self-efficacy may also partly explain (mediate) these associations, (3) employing multidimensional measures of circadian functioning is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of its associations with both self-efficacy and depressive symptoms.