Perceived stress, sleep efficiency, and circadian timing as predictors of night eating behaviors among adolescents

This study examined the relationships among night eating behaviors, perceived stress, sleep efficiency, and circadian timing in adolescents and identified factors associated with night eating behaviors. The sample consisted of 462 adolescents aged 10–19 years (405 females and 57 males), with a mean body weight of 54.95 ± 8.40 kg, a mean height of 158.8 ± 7.36 cm, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 21.75 ± 2.76 kg/m2. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), the Sleep Quality Scale and Sleep Variables Questionnaire, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The mean age of participants was 13.57 ± 2.56 years. Male adolescents, smokers, and those reporting frequent night eating after 10 PM had significantly higher NEQ scores. NEQ scores were positively correlated with sleep duration, number of main meals, sleep efficiency, midpoint of sleep on free days (MSF), and perceived stress. Hierarchical regression showed that demographic and lifestyle variables explained 15.5% of the variance in NEQ scores. Adding sleep-related variables increased the explained variance to 19.8%, while perceived stress increased it to 21.7%. Later MSF, higher perceived stress, and greater sleep efficiency were significant predictors. Delayed circadian timing, elevated perceived stress, and sleep-related characteristics were significantly associated with night eating behaviors among adolescents.