Journals / Türkiye Sağlık Araştırmaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 7 Sayı: 2

COVID-19 PANDEMIC–ASSOCIATED CHANGES IN SLEEP–WAKE PATTERNS AND CHRONONUTRITION BEHAVIORS IN ADULTS

YETİŞKİN BİREYLERDE COVID-19 PANDEMİSİ İLE İLİŞKİLİ UYKU–UYANIKLIK DÜZENİ VE KRONOBESLENME DAVRANIŞLARINDAKİ DEĞİŞİKLİKLER

Gizem Özata Uyar(Kırıkkale Üniversitesi)0000-0002-9022-6956
Hilal Yıldıran(GAZİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7956-5087
Pages
13–30
Publication Date
2026-08-20
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

However, longitudinal studies are warranted to further elucidate the long-term consequences of these behavioral changes.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected individuals’ lives and has led to notable changes, particularly in sleep–wake patterns and chrononutrition behaviors.
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Key Findings & Data:This study aimed to investigate changes in sleep–wake timing, meal timing, and chrononutrition-related behaviors among adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Conclusion & Impact:However, longitudinal studies are warranted to further elucidate the long-term consequences of these behavioral changes.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2020 Verileri
⚙️Variables:COVID-19 · Kronobeslenme · Sirkadiyen ritim

Abstract

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected individuals’ lives and has led to notable changes, particularly in sleep–wake patterns and chrononutrition behaviors. This study aimed to investigate changes in sleep–wake timing, meal timing, and chrononutrition-related behaviors among adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected between July and September 2020 using a web-based questionnaire. A total of 340 adults residing in Turkey participated in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, sleep parameters, and chrononutrition behaviors were assessed and compared between the pre-COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Continuous variables were compared using paired-samples t-tests, whereas paired categorical variables were analyzed using the McNemar–Bowker test. Results: Significant delays in bedtime, wake time, and meal timing were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). The timing of the first and last eating events, as well as the eating midpoint, shifted to later hours. Sleep duration slightly increased during the pandemic (7.6±1.28 vs. 7.8±1.48 hours, p=0.007). Eating window, morning latency, social jetlag, and eating jetlag significantly decreased (p<0.001), whereas evening latency increased. Breakfast frequency and after-dinner snack consumption also increased (p<0.001). In addition, mean body mass index (BMI) showed a statistically significant increase (25.2±4.92 vs. 25.5±4.47 kg/m², p<0.001), whereas no statistically significant change was observed in BMI categories (p=0.069). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significant alterations in sleep–wake timing and chrononutrition behaviors among adults. Delays in sleep and meal timing, together with shifts in dietary patterns, highlight the impact of pandemic-related lifestyle disruptions on circadian alignment. However, longitudinal studies are warranted to further elucidate the long-term consequences of these behavioral changes.

Özet

Amaç: COVID-19 pandemisi, bireylerin yaşamlarını önemli ölçüde etkilemiş ve özellikle uyku–uyanıklık düzeni ile kronobeslenme davranışlarında dikkate değer değişikliklere yol açmıştır. Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemisi öncesi ve sırasında yetişkinlerde uyku–uyanıklık zamanlaması, öğün zamanlaması ve kronobeslenme ile ilişkili davranışlardaki değişimleri incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışmada, veriler Temmuz–Eylül 2020 tarihleri arasında web tabanlı bir anket kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Türkiye’de yaşayan toplam 340 yetişkin çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Sosyodemografik özellikler, antropometrik ölçümler, uyku parametreleri ve kronobeslenme davranışları pandemi öncesi ve pandemi dönemi arasında değerlendirilmiş ve karşılaştırılmıştır. Sürekli değişkenlerin karşılaştırılmasında eşleştirilmiş örneklem t-testi, eşleştirilmiş kategorik değişkenlerin karşılaştırılmasında ise McNemar–Bowker testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında yatış zamanı, uyanma zamanı ve öğün zamanlamasında anlamlı gecikmeler gözlenmiştir (p<0,001). İlk ve son öğün zamanları ile yeme orta noktası daha ileri saatlere kaymıştır. Uyku süresi pandemi döneminde hafif ancak anlamlı düzeyde artmıştır (7,6±1,28 vs. 7,8±1,48 saat, p=0,007). Yeme penceresi aralığı, sabah latensi, sosyal jetlag ve yeme jetlağı anlamlı olarak azalırken (p<0,001), akşam latensi artmıştır. Kahvaltı yapma sıklığı ve akşam yemeği sonrası atıştırmalık tüketimi de artış göstermiştir (p<0,001). Ayrıca, ortalama beden kütle indeksi (BKİ) istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde artış göstermiştir (25,2±4,92'ye karşı 25,5±4,47 kg/m², p<0,001); ancak BKİ kategorilerinin dağılımında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir değişiklik saptanmamıştır (p=0,069). Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi, yetişkinlerde uyku–uyanıklık zamanlaması ve kronobeslenme davranışlarında önemli değişikliklerle ilişkili bulunmuştur. Uyku ve öğün zamanlamasındaki gecikmeler ile beslenme örüntülerindeki değişimler, pandemiyle ilişkili yaşam tarzı değişikliklerinin sirkadiyen uyum üzerindeki etkisini ortaya koymaktadır. Ancak, bu davranış değişikliklerinin uzun dönemli sonuçlarını daha iyi açıklayabilmek için uzunlamasına çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

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Cite This Article

Uyar, G. Ö., Yıldıran, H. (2026). COVID-19 PANDEMIC–ASSOCIATED CHANGES IN SLEEP–WAKE PATTERNS AND CHRONONUTRITION BEHAVIORS IN ADULTS. Türkiye Sağlık Araştırmaları Dergisi, Cilt: 7 Sayı: 2, 13–30. https://ajindex.com/articles/1562177

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