Study Reveals Mornings Are Peak Time for Mental Well-Being

University College London research finds people feel happier and less anxious after waking, with well-being declining by evening.

The study analyzed data from nearly 50,000 participants collected during the COVID-19 Social Study from 2020 to 2022.
Participants consistently reported greater happiness, life satisfaction, and lower levels of anxiety and loneliness in the morning compared to nighttime.
The research also showed slight variations in well-being based on the day of the week, with Mondays and Fridays showing marginally better results than Sundays.
Seasonal trends indicated higher happiness and lower loneliness outside of winter, though the morning-to-night well-being pattern remained consistent year-round.
Researchers suggest physiological factors, such as cortisol levels linked to the body’s internal clock, may explain these daily mood fluctuations, though causation was not determined.