Study Reveals The Best And Worst Times Of Human Mood Cycle

Amid the relentless march of time and the hustle of daily life, two distinct moments stand out: one characterised by gloom and the other by elation. A recent study published in the PLOS Digital Health Journal sheds light on these contrasting moments, pinpointing 5 am as the low point of human mood and 5 pm as the peak of happiness.

Lead author of the study, Benjamin Shapiro, a psychiatrist at Dartmouth Health, discussed the findings with the New York Post, emphasising that mood naturally fluctuates, with the lowest point in the morning and the highest in the evening, regardless of sleep quality. This insight stems from an analysis conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and Dartmouth Health, who observed 2,602 medical interns over two years.

Using wearable health tracking devices, the team monitored participants’ continuous heart rate, step count, sleep patterns and daily mood scores. Their analysis unveiled a significant correlation between time of day and emotional well-being. The results indicated that 5 am tends to be the unhappiest hour, while 5 pm emerges as the pinnacle of cheerfulness.

Senior author Danny Forger, a mathematics professor at the U-M Medical School, echoed these findings, highlighting the profound influence of the body’s internal clock on mood fluctuations. He noted that mood deteriorates progressively with wakefulness, exacerbated by the effects of sleep deprivation.

The study’s researchers acknowledged certain limitations in their findings, as reported by the New York Post. The experiment was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting and the sample size was relatively modest. These factors were considered due to the complex interplay of social dynamics, individual temperament and varied schedules among participants.

Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into the relationship between time of day and emotional well-being. Understanding these patterns could potentially inform strategies for managing mood and optimising mental health in daily life.