Self-reported preferences for seasonal daylight saving time meet fundamentals of human physiology: Correlations in the 2018 public consultation by the European Commission.

Abstract

We analyze the results to question 2 (individual preferences for cancelling or keeping the current clock regulations) from the 2018 Public Consultation on summertime arrangements (DST) conducted by the European Commission. We reveal correlations in the shares of population for cancelling the regulations and the winter sunrise time (SRW) [R² = 0.177; p = 0.03; N = 25] and the onset of human activity [R² = 0.677; p = 5 × 10^-5; N = 17]. The results are in line with the rationale behind the regulations in the range of latitude 35 to 63: larger values of SRW (larger latitude) brought larger shares against the regulations; and earlier onset of human activity relative to SRW brought larger shares against the regulations. The shares for cancelling the regulation did not show correlations with time offset (position in time zone), thus challenging the current view within the circadian community.