Circadian preferences and personality values: Morning types prefer social values, evening types prefer individual values

Individual differences in morningness–eveningness are related to differences in personality. In this study of 1344 German adolescents, we used the Composite Scale of Morningness and the Portrait Values Questionnaire to assess the association between chronotype and personality values, controlling for age, puberty status, gender, problem perception in two dimensions (parents and self), and religious affiliation. Morningness orientation was correlated with higher acceptance of social values (conservation and self-transcendence) while eveningness orientation was correlated with higher preference for individual values (openness to change and self-enhancement). Girls were higher in self-transcendence while boys were higher in self-enhancement. Individuals with higher pubertal development preferred self-enhancement. Adolescents reporting problems with their parents preferred individual values while adolescents reporting problems with the self preferred conservation values. Religious affiliation also correlated positively with conservation. We interpreted the negative attitude of evening types towards social values as result of a cost-benefit consideration regarding early social schedules.

► Morningness orientation was correlated with higher preference for social values (openness to change and self-enhancement).
► Eveningness orientation was correlated with higher acceptance of individual values (conservation and self-transcendence).
► Girls were higher in self-transcendence while boys were higher in self-enhancement.
► Individuals with higher pubertal development preferred self-enhancement.