Daylight saving shows no real link to mental illness, study finds
Researchers found weak evidence that daylight saving time affects mental health.
An international study of 157 papers from 36 countries found only weak evidence linking daylight saving time to mental health. Researchers from Swinburne University looked at depression, substance abuse and other mental issues across multiple studies.
Some people feel effects like minor jet lag, but no link was found to serious declines in mental health. The study was published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
Australia's states handle time zones differently: several shift clocks forward on Sunday, while Queensland and Western Australia do not observe daylight saving.
- 157 papers from 36 countries
- Studies reviewed
- European Journal of Epidemiology
- Research published in
Why it mattersSettles a debate about daylight saving's health effects as Australian states prepare to shift clocks this weekend.
AustraliaSouth Australia, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT change their clocks Sunday; the study's findings may influence future DST policy debates.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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