Andershed, Anna-Karin. (2005). In Sync with Adolescence: The Role of Morningness-Eveningness in Development. Reviewed by Wendy S. Crank, Adams State College

Andershed, Anna-Karin. (2005). In Sync with Adolescence: The Role of Morningness-Eveningness in Development. N.Y.: Springer Science & Business Media, Inc. 184 pp. $79.95 (Hardcover)   ISBN 0-387-22417-3 Reviewed by Wendy S. Crank Adams State College June 29, 2005 Andershed reports on a five-year longitudinal research study on the developmental importance of circadian rhythms in adolescence. The study concentrates on adolescence (about 12 years to 17 years). Her research shows that circadian rhythms do change in the adolescent years. Her research agrees with previous studies that "eveningness" can put a child at risk for delinquent and anti-social behaviors, while "morningness" tends to put a child at an advantage for pro-social characteristics. Andershed's research has shown that although there is a slight change in circadian rhythms, the significance is slight. The research did show that a child’s genetically predetermined circadian rhythm can affect them in either positive or negative ways. Andershed begins by explaining, through past studies, how all humans are born with a tendency toward morningness, neutrality, or eveningness. Some children rise early and go to bed easily, while some have a hard time falling asleep and an even more difficult time waking. Some people are wired to be most alert and active at different times. In a societal view, the morning person is seen as more desirable: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” The “night owl” is often viewed as lazy, irresponsible, and not fitting into the norms of society. Early studies that originated to find the best employees for shift work have shown that morningness is detrimental, yet neutral and evening types work well. Unfortunately, shift work isn’t a part of normal life, and evening types can find themselves placed in an unacceptable light by the rest of society. The evening type of person may be misunderstood and judged harshly. Moreover, such persons may be subjected to greater risks of engaging in anti-social behaviors. Andershed’s statistics revealed that evening types were more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and participate in delinquent behavior, while morning types were less susceptible. Family interactions were also seen as more difficult due to eveningness. Andershed’s studies found that parents of evening type children were more worried about their child’s school performance, were less trusting of their children and had poorer communication. Such attitudes may have arisen from very early frustrations with struggling over bedtimes and waking groggy children. Morning type children tended to have sunnier dispositions and better relations with their parents. Andershed concluded that evening types may be at even more risk due to their lack of communication and cohesiveness with the family. She recommends educating parents on the role of eveningness for the sake of understanding and to diminish frustration and blame. School adjustment was another negative experience for the evening type. Due to the hours of schooling, evening types enjoyed school less and cut class more. However, there was not a significant difference in the actual grades or intelligence scores between evening and morning types. The fact that morning types may not do as well late in the day and that homework can be done at any chosen time, may be the reason. In Cofer’s (1999) study with college students, school success is affected by the students' ability to choose the time of day that they may take a course. Andershed worried about the directionality of any causal link between morningness-eveningness and anti-social vs. pro-social behaviors. Do delinquents become nocturnal to participate in evening activities, or is eveningness creating delinquency? The further studies on personality types revealed that even though evening types were more at risk, comparing personality types of impulsiveness and sensation seeking behavior with morning types proved that it is personality type and not circadian rhythm that is directly tied to anti-social behavior. Andershed’s findings were not what I had expected from the title of the book. I was hoping to understand how circadian rhythms change in adolescence and discovered an even more interesting topic; how circadian rhythm affects us all throughout human development. The information presented on circadian rhythms and active times of the day can be beneficial knowledge in scheduling a student’s day. Educating parents and school personnel can help the evening type student feel more accepted and understood in order to reduce the risks that currently are associated with eveningness. Reference Cofer, L.F., Grice, J.W., Sethre-Hofstad, L., Radi, C.J., Zimmerman L.K., Palmer-Seal, D., & Santa-Maria, G. (1999). Developmental perspectives on morningness-eveningness and social interactions. Human Development, 42, 169 – 198. Copyright is retained by the first or sole author, who grants right of first publication to the Education Review.