The Effect of Personality on Chrononutrition during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Qatar

Abstract

The COVID-19 lockdown has had a significant impact on people’s lives worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effect of personality on chrononutrition during the COVID-19 lockdown. Using a cross-sectional design, a convenient sample of 543 adults in Qatar completed an online questionnaire using validated tools to assess personality and chrononutrition behaviors during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Participants scoring high in openness were more likely to eat at night (mean difference (MD) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.10, 0.72) compared to those scoring high in agreeableness, while those scoring high in extraversion and openness had a shorter eating window (MD = -76.6, 95%CI: -146.3, -6.93 and MD = -29.8, 95%CI: -56.5, -3.01, respectively). Participants high in extraversion had longer evening latency (MD = 66.3, 95%CI: 25.4, 107.3) and evening eating (MD = -62.0, 95%CI: -114.0, -9.0) compared those high in agreeableness. Participants high in conscientiousness showed evidence of first eating event misalignment during the weekend (MD = 22.0, 95%CI: 0.15, 43.9) and last eating event misalignment during weekdays (MD = -27.8, 95%CI: -47.3, -8.41) compared to those high in agreeableness. Lastly, participants high in openness showed evidence of eating window misalignment during the weekend (MD = 30.6, 95%CI: 5.01, 56.2). This study suggests that personality traits can inform personalized nutritional approaches when aiming for healthy habits during unexpected periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.