Study: Night owls more prone to early retirement due to disability

A recent Finnish study has shown that people who tend to stay up late and wake up late may be more likely to retire due to disability than those who prefer to wake up early.

The science website ScienceDaily reported that a research team from the University of Oulu followed participants for 12 years and published the study’s findings in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The results indicated that night owls were about 70% more likely to receive a disability pension compared to early risers.

Researchers noted that repeated misalignment between the body’s biological clock and morning work demands may be linked to sleep disturbances and health problems, explaining that sleep patterns are influenced by both genetic factors and daily habits.

They emphasized the importance of considering individual differences in sleep patterns when organizing work schedules, which could help mitigate health effects associated with the mismatch between work hours and the body’s circadian rhythm.

The biological clock is known as the internal system that regulates cycles of sleep, wakefulness, and activity in the human body. Persistent misalignment between this clock and work schedules can lead to sleep disorders, fatigue, and impaired daily functioning.