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Zur Validität der deutschen Übersetzung des Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaires von Horne und Östberg

The validity of a german version of the morningness-eveningness-questionnaire developed by Horne and Östberg

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Zusammenfassung

Die Vergleichbarkeit mit der internationalen Literatur ist ein entscheidendes Kriterium bei der Wahl von Testinstrumenten. Zur Identifizierung der subjektiven zirkadianen Phasenlage (Chronotyp) werden im deutschen Sprachraum daher meist Übersetzungen des Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaires (MEQ, Horne & Östberg, Int J Chronobiol 4:97–110, 1976) angewendet. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Validität einer deutschen Übersetzung des MEQ (D-MEQ) geprüft. Als Kriterien dienten der validierte Fragebogen zur subjektiven zirkadianen Phasenlage (SCP, R Moog, in Reinberg, Vieux, Andlauer (eds): night and shift work. Biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press Oxford, 1981) sowie der Nadir der Körperkerntemperatur und der Beginn der nächtlich erhöhten Melatoninkonzentration im Speichel.

377 Personen (207 Frauen, 170 Männer, 18–68 Jahre) beantworteten in wechselnder Reihenfolge den D-MEQ und den SCP, 43 personen den D-MEQ 7 bis 12 Wochen später ein zweites Mal. 50 Personen absolvierten eine Constant Routine (24 Stunden strenge Bettuhe bei einer Beleuchtung<30 lux, einer Raumtemperatur von 20°C und in stündlichen Abständen verabreichter isokalorischer Diät). Während dieser Zeit wurde die Rektaltemperatur kontinuierlich registriert und stündlich die Melatoninkonzentration im Speichel bestimmt.

Die Scores beider Fragebögen korrelierten hochsignifikant miteinander (r=−0,9, p<0.0001) und resultierten in einer etwa gleich häufigen Zuordnung zu den verschiedenen Chronotypen. Der Chronotyp korrelierte wiederum signifikant mit dem Nadir der Körperkerntemperatur (r=−0,345, p<0,014) und dem Beginn der Melatoninsynthese (−0,606, p<0.001).

Die hier angewandte deutsche Übersetzung des MEQ stellt damit ein valides Instrument zur Identifizierung der individuellen Phasenlage dar.

Summary

The comparability with the international literature is a decisive criterion for the choice of test instruments. Therefore, German translations of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ, Horne & Östberg, Int J Chronobiol 4:97–110, 1976) are used to identify the subjective circadian phase (chronotype). In the present study the validity of a German version of the MEQ (D-MEQ) has been examined. Criteria were the validated questionnaire for the subjective circadian phase (SCP, R Moog, in Reinberg, Vieux, Andlauer (eds): night and shift work. Biological and social aspects. Pergamon Press Oxford, 1981) as well as the nadir of core body temperature and the onset of nocturnally elevated salivary melatonin concentration.

377 persons (207 women, 170 men, 18–68 years) completed both questionnaires (ever half of them first either the D-MEQ or the SCP). Forty-three persons completed the D-MEQ again 7 to 12 weeks later. Fifty persons were observed during a 24 hours constant routine, where they kept a strict bedrest at low illumination levels (<30 lux), an ambient temperature of 20°C and an hourly isocaloric diet. Rectal temperature was continuously registered throughout and salivary melatonin concentration was determined hourly.

The scores of both questionnaires correlated significantly (r=−0.9, p<0.0001) and resulted in an almost equal number of assignments to the various diurnal types. The latter correlated in turn significantly with the nadir of body core temperature (r=−0.345, p<0.014) and with the onset of nocturnally elevated melatonin synthesis (r=−0.606, p<0.0001).

Hence, the German version of the MEQ applied here is a valid instrument for the identification of the individual circadian phase.

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Correspondence to Barbara Griefahn.

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Griefahn, B., Künemund, C., Bröde, P. et al. Zur Validität der deutschen Übersetzung des Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaires von Horne und Östberg. Somnologie 5, 71–80 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-054X.2001.01149.x

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