Abstract/Summary

Evening chronotype is associated with more frequent binge-eating, depression, and less frequent breakfast consumption. The current study investigated whether skipping breakfast mediates the relationships between chronotype and binge-eating, and chronotype and depression. 272 participants completed an online survey with questionnaire measures of chronotype/morningness-eveningness, binge-eating, depression, and meal skipping. Significant positive correlations were found between eveningness and skipping breakfast, eveningness and depression, skipping breakfast and depression, and skipping breakfast and binge-eating. Eveningness was also correlated with binge-eating, and although this was not statistically significant, mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of eveningness on binge-eating through skipping breakfast. The indirect effect of eveningness on depression through skipping breakfast was not significant, but the indirect effect sequentially through breakfast skipping and binge-eating was significant. The current findings indicate potential mechanisms for the inter-relationships between eveningness, breakfast skipping, binge-eating, and depression, which may be more fully investigated in research utilising longitudinal designs.