Associations Among Chronotype, Big Five Personality Factors, and Sensation-Seeking in Two Adult Samples

Chronotype, or an individual's preference for morningness or eveningness, has been widely studied across medicine, genetics, and psychology. Chronotype has been linked to personality traits, academic performance, and a variety of behaviors, with evening-types often displaying higher levels of impulsivity, disinhibition, and sensation-seeking, traits that are often found among the criminal population. Despite these associations, few studies have directly examined the link between chronotype, personality, and criminal behavior, even though some traits are prevalent within both evening-type and criminal populations. The present research consists of two studies exploring the relationships between the Big Five personality traits, chronotype, and sensation-seeking. We hypothesized that evening-types would score higher on sensation-seeking, a personality trait commonly associated with criminal behavior. Study 1 included 219 adults, and Study 2 included 83 adults. Participants completed the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and the Lark-Owl Chronotype Indicator (LOCI), with Study 2 also including the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). Results showed that morning-types were more conscientious, emotionally stable, and extraverted, while evening-types were less conscientious and more disinhibited. These findings support existing research on chronotype and personality and highlight the potential role of chronotype in behavioral tendencies related to risk-taking and impulsivity.