Sleep time, social jetlag and intelligence: biology or work timing?

Abstract

Sleep-wake patterns show substantial biological determination, but they are also subject to individual choice and societal pressure. Some evidence suggests that high IQ is associated with later sleep patterns. However, t is therefore unclear whether the relationship between IQ and later sleep is due to biological or social effects, such as timing and flexibility of working hours. We investigated the association between habitual sleep timing during work days and work-free days, working time and intelligence in a sample of 1,172 adults. We found no difference in chronotype, and the later sleep timing of high-IQ individuals on work days was fully accounted for by later work start times. Our results indicate that later sleep timing in those with higher IQs is not due to physiological differences, but rather due to later or more flexible work schedules. Later working times and the resulting lower social jetlag may be one of the reasons why higher IQ is associated with lower prospective morbidity and mortality. Statement of significanceSome evidence shows that higher intelligence is associated with sleep characteristics, but it is unclear if this is because of biological or social mechanisms. We provide evidence for a social mechanism. We found that high IQ individuals indeed sleep later, but only on working days, and this difference is fully accounted for by later work timing. Our evidence is consistent with a view that highly intelligent individuals sleep later because they can afford to, consequently experience lower social jetlag, and this may partially account for better health outcomes.