Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Circadian rhythms, cyclic changes that repeat approximately once every 24 hours, regulate daily temporal processes of physiology and behaviour in all living organisms. Rhythmicity is adaptive, providing advantages for survival, growth, and reproduction. For human beings, this includes rhythmic regulation of mental, physical, and emotional responses to stressors. In this dissertation, we addressed how human beings facing major stressors such as chronic disease (in this case, cancer), are influenced by circadian timing, specifically chronotype and sleep quality. A broad epidemiological study was conducted among individuals in different roles (patients, medical staff, and familial caregivers) facing a common stressor to assesses their ability to cope with the situation. Breast cancer patients provided real-time reports of their coping across the day. Patients and familial caregivers completed retrospective average ratings for their coping across the day across treatment, along with details on use of coping behaviours. Oncology staff provided ratings of their burnout, and Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL). These data were all assessed in relation to chronotype and sleep quality, and to an extent, in relation to personality. Chronotype and sleep quality influenced coping within each group, but their impacts were not correlated. Nonetheless, working at chronotypically optimal times improved ProQoL. ‘In the moment’ coping ratings from patients reflected their chronotype, as did their recalled coping. ‘Openness’ was positively linked with ProQoL among staff, and with an engagement coping style among patients and caregivers. The data reflect an influence of circadian timing on the expression of coping responses during chronic stress. A better understanding of changes in coping ability as they relate to one’s innate rhythms will allow for the development of a cognitive and emotion-based chronotherapy regime intended to maximize proactive coping among individuals facing chronic stress, such as providing care or undergoing treatment for cancer.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Daniela Bellicoso
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2775800752