Emotional Clocks in Teens: Understanding Diurnal Mood Fluctuations in the Digital Age

Is mood a constant state, or does it shift dynamically throughout the day? In this study, we investigate diurnal mood variations by analyzing self-expressed emotions in Reddit posts from teenagers, a population with structured daily routines, which is especially active in the digital realm and has heightened mood expressions. Using sentiment analysis, we find evidence of an inverse U-shaped mood pattern for both positive and negative sentiment across the daily cycle that peaks during the morning times. These fluctuations parallel known biological rhythms, such as cortisol levels and sleep-wake cycles. Our findings contribute to theoretical models of mood regulation and have practical implications for early mental health interventions, highlighting the importance of timing in psychological assessments and treatments.