Self-reported discomfort associated with Daylight Saving Time in Brazilian tropical and subtropical zones

Autor(es)

Nascimento de Alencar, Joao Carlos ^[1] ; Leocadio-Miguel, Mario Andre ^{[1, 2]} ; Duarte, Leandro Lourencao ^[3] ; Louzada, Fernando ^[4] ; Araujo, John Fontenele ^{[1, 2]} ; Pedrazzoli, Mario ^[5]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Programa Posgrad Psicobiol, Natal, RN - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Dept Fisiol, Natal, RN - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Reconcavo Bahia, Ctr Ciencia Saude, Santo Antonio De Jesus - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Parana, Dept Fisiol, Curitiba, Parana - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY; v. 44, n. 7, p. 628-635, 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 3

Resumo

Background: Daylight Saving Time (DST) annually moves clocks 1 hour forward, when daytime is longer than night. Previous studies from medium and high latitude locations have pointed to a disruptive effect of DST on human circadian rhythms. Since Brazil is an equatorial country implementing DST, a different relationship between photic and social synchronisers may interfere with DST effects. Aim: To explore the prevalence and duration of self-reported discomfort related to DST among Brazilian residents (latitude 12-33 degrees S, longditude 39-57 degrees W). It was hypothesised that an elevated prevalence of self-reported discomfort would be found in Brazil, due to the pronounced uncoupling between social and geophysical synchronisers. Subjects and methods: In total, 12 467 volunteers completed a web-based, Brazilian version of Horne-ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, provided demographic information, and answered questions related to DST complaints (discomfort, duration of discomfort). Results: Of the total sample, 45.43% reported no discomfort related to DST, with meaningful proportions for all chronotypes. However, eveningness was most associated with discomfort. About one fourth of the total sample reported discomfort over the whole DST period. Gender interaction is largely supported by these results. Conclusions: DST at low latitude locations may be disruptive for circadian rhythms, since seasonality of sunrise near the equator is negligible or very mild. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/05804-5 - Caracterização fenotípica de ritmos circadianos em indivíduos com diferentes genótipos para polimorfismos nos genes relógio em diferentes regiões do Brasil: ênfase na investigação do gene PER3 e o efeito latitude
• Beneficiário: Mario Pedrazzoli Neto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular